‘Size of govt should increase’

Best Sunshine International Ltd.’s $7.1-billion integrated casino development on Saipan would necessitate the administration of Gov. Eloy S. Inos to look into increasing the government’s bureaucracy, especially staffing at the Division of Customs and other revenue collections-related agencies.

This was one of the recommendations cited by the Committee on Transition when it made public the summary of its findings and recommendations yesterday.

“With the future growth brought upon by the casino industry, customs enforcement and revenue collections-related positions need [to] be increased to assure that compliance is met and revenues are collected,” it reads.

The transition committee also recommended that the Department of Public Safety recruit more policemen and certain government agencies to hire their own attorneys.

“In addition, more police officers will need to be hired as well as other governmental services that are expected to serve this new industry. Several government departments and agencies including the Division of Revenue and Taxation, Division of Customs Service, Procurement & Supply, and others have expressed the need for access to legal counsels on legal issues affecting their job responsibilities,” the report said.

It also found out that in general, the government, which has been criticized and at times even lampooned for being bloated years before, is now actually understaffed.

“There is a wide consensus among government departments and agencies that more staffing is needed to enable them to effectively and efficiently carry out their mandates. Currently, most divisions’ personnel/staffing sizes have been decreased by 50 percent or more. This is a significant reduction in the number of government personnel and threatens the timely deliveries of essential public services.”

In addition, the transition committee report also proposed that government seriously look into increasing the salary of civil servants.

“Several government employees feel that they have been underpaid considering their workload aggravated by limited staffing. Additionally, many of the senior employees have been working for numerous years with the same pay level. Salary increases should serve as motivation and incentive to retain these individuals for their hard work, dedication, and commitment.”

The report also said the absence of performance standards and a code of practice that would enable government employees to be more efficient and productive has driven the culture of “political hiring” rather than employment based on merit.

The transition committee also wants the implementation and enforcement of drug-free workplaces and counseling programs to continue, adding that the recent tragic incidents of murder and suicide involving police officers reinforce the need to make counseling services available to law enforcement agencies.

Devt planning commission

The transition report also recommends that the Commonwealth develop and formulate a strategic development plan and this could only be achieved by establishing a Comprehensive Economic Development Planning Commission.

This entity should be comprised of public and private entities to allow both sectors to collaborate in developing a unified but comprehensive plan.

It added that the Department of Commerce and Commonwealth Development Authority should work with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce to formulate and implement a sustainable Strategic Development Plan.

The report also recommended that the Marianas Visitors Authority must take the lead in incorporating a Tourism Master Plan into the CNMI Comprehensive Economic Development Plan to improve and enhance our tourism industry.

“There are currently so many studies already done and collecting dust. A review of these studies should be made and updated accordingly,” the report read.

The report also said the islands must take full advantage of its location to potential investors, as the CNMI is the closest U.S. jurisdiction to Asia.

“The CNMI can be the bridge between USA and Asia, where American-made products can be exhibited here for Asian buyers, and Asian-made products can be exhibited in the CNMI for American buyers.”

It also called for the establishment of a “One-Stop Business Center” to centralize the business licensing process in a single office where business applicants can obtain all required documents to open a business in one location and thus increase economic development in the CNMI.

In a broader recommendation, the report said the government must support a broad-based and sustainable economy that creates meaningful jobs for the U.S. citizens residing in the CNMI, attracts sustainable direct foreign investments, expands the CNMI’s revenue base, responsibly protects the CNMI’s fragile ecosystems, expands opportunity to promote prosperity, and maintains efficient and effective delivery of essential public services, and improves the standard of living and the socio-economic conditions of the people of the CNMI.

Embrace alternative energy

The transition committee said the CNMI should seriously confront the issue of energy security.

It said its overdependence on fossil fuel means the Commonwealth is at the mercy of the volatile price of oil in global markets. It recommends that the CNMI embrace solar, geothermal, wind, or other sources of alternative energy.

The transition report also said the government must seriously reassess and reevaluate how it procures its fuel for the islands’ power plants.

“For too many years, the CNMI has been primarily relying only on two local fuel suppliers. Oftentimes, both fuel suppliers seem to control the local price of fuel. On future RFPs for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s fuel purchases, the announcements should include off-island fuel suppliers.”

It also said the CNMI should investigate the feasibility of constructing its own fuel tanks, or fuel farms, to accommodate other cheaper fuel suppliers while maintaining sufficient reserves for emergencies.

The Committee on Transition, which was created shortly after Inos and Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres won the gubernatorial runoff last December, is headed by chair Gregorio M. Camacho and vice chair James Ada. It also has nine-member panel made up of Rufin S. Inos, Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, Esther S. Fleming, Mathilda A. Rosario, Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), and Torres’ brothers Vince, Victorino, and Joaquin.