‘Unfortunately, this ship has sailed’

Knight

A former CNMI resident who headed a number of local business groups doesn’t see U.S. Congress acceding to the Commonwealth’s request to extend the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker program, which is set to end in 2019.

Lynn Knight, who served as the representative of a territorial governor in Washington D.C., chaired two economic development commissions, the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands board, and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce board, said the CNMI should end its reliance on foreign workers.

“Unfortunately, this ship has sailed. We knew that [Public Law 110-229] would not work for the CNMI as it was written and that’s why we opposed it for more than a decade. I don’t think the CNMI can amend the legislation at this point. There’s no momentum and the CNMI’s voice in Washington, D.C. is very small,” Knight said in an email interview with Saipan Tribune.

There’s little appetite among political leaders in the Capitol to listen and give a break to a remote U.S. territory when there are other large issues on their plate, she added.

“They also don’t want to set a precedent when much larger immigration issues are on the move. Look at the end of [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals], the end of the lottery system, the end of status for people from Nicaragua, Haiti, etc.,” Knight added.

While no longer a CNMI resident, Knight remains updated on issues that pertain to the Commonwealth.

“…But if I were still there running a business I would be hiring and mentoring as many locals as I could and also looking seriously at alternatives. There are a number of places in the U.S. that have unemployed people. There are some good programs that businesses are undertaking to hire and train locals like the Northern Marianas [Technical] Institute, the tourism club for students, etc.,” she added.

Knight cited Puerto Rico as an example where the CNMI can recruit manpower. “Their economy nearly collapsed and as many as 200,000 people have left to try to find a more comfortable place to live and work. Puerto Ricans know island life and many are experienced with tourism,” she said.

“Another source of tourism workers could be places in the U.S. that are just seasonal tourist destinations or are experiencing layoffs. There are two hotels in South Florida, for example, that have announced a total of 600 layoffs,” Knight added.

She still hears of incidences of U.S. citizens feeling like they’re not being given a chance in the CNMI.

“Some businesses would rather hang on to their long-time, trusted foreign workers. I don’t know why people thought the law would change after the transition period. The legislative intent was very clear,” she said.

Amidst the CW-1 cutbacks under P.L. 110-229, there are still a number of mega construction projects being planned that are largely tourism based.

“Tourism will always be the CNMI’s No. 1 industry and, unfortunately, it is labor intensive…Honestly, I can’t see how new hotels with thousands of rooms could be built or staffed with the planned reductions of CW permits,” Knight said.

Rather than continuing to build thousands of rooms and planning for an economy that requires large numbers of tourists, she believes there is another way.

“It might be a better strategy to gradually go upscale and welcome smaller numbers, paying higher prices. Less tourists would also have less adverse impact on the environment,” she said.

“Take a look at what Palau is doing. Going upscale and limiting capacity would require a commitment and collaborated effort, with champions to make it happen,” Knight added.

Knight also served as vice president of TanHoldings. She was also the director of the Economic Development Programs for Management Analysis, Inc. consulting with local and federal government clients in six states.

Knight is currently vice president of Knowledge Management and Development of the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C.