One avenue to consider

The economy of the CNMI for the last decade or so has severely suffered a setback. We need to resolve the critical shortage of workforce in the CNMI. The situation today seems to indicate that we will be facing a worse situation unless we find a solution to resolve the labor issues we are facing. Right now, based on what is currently in the law, I understand the CW program will be reduced to one by 2019 (next year). I presume that means we will have only on CW worker ion our islands.

Unless we can qualify the present CW workers under a different immigration status, the CNMI economy will also drastically be reduced to a point where we can only rely on local residents to take on the jobs presently held by CW workers. I hope I am wrong and if I am wrong, please correct me.

After living in Guam for 18 years, I returned to Saipan in 1965 to take on a challenging position that was offered to me. Since that time, I have observed the economic growth, particularly in tourism. Except for Mr. Jones and Mr. Tenorio, several hotels were built mostly by Japanese investors. Workers for these hotels and related supports were brought in from Japan and Philippines and other areas. As our economy grew, so did the critical need to import workers. This trend has not changed. As a matter of fact, the demand for more workers has increased.

Next year, with the termination of the CW program, we can expect “economic dormancy.” We must act now and I fervently request that our government (executive and legislative) to find a way to resolve this critical problem now.

Here is a solution that I have been studying that needs the attention of our government as well as United States. I urge the reactivation of Section 902 of our Covenant and submit a request to the President of the United States to designate its representatives to ask President Donald Trump to accord U.S. permanent residency for those workers who have been working continuously and legally for 15 years in the CNMI. There are at least 10,000 Filipinos who might be qualified. This will eliminate the problem today. These folks have essentially been alienated from their homeland and their children born in the CNMI are, in fact, U.S. citizens and, to them, the CNMI is their home. For humanitarian reasons and to solve the critical problem, I feel that this is one avenue that we must consider and move forward with.

David M. Sablan Sr.
Papago, Saipan