Young pledges to hear out all sides

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday expressed hope that US Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman of the House Resources Committee and members of his delegation would discover the real issues confronting the CNMI during their three-day stay on the island.

Young’s visit came amid renewed calls from Washington to federalize labor and immigration policies in the Northern Marianas after the 902 consultations between the CNMI panel and US President Clinton’s representative Edward B. Cohen bogged down last month.

With the filing of a $1 billion lawsuit by the garment workers against manufacturers and buyers in California and Saipan, the Northern Marianas was described in various media entities in the United States as a slave island.

“We appreciate your visit to the CNMI. I hope you will get a first hand information on what is happening here and you will get a complete picture of the problems and issues facing the CNMI,” said Tenorio.

According to Young, he is concerned with the accusations of labor abuses and the issue of competition in the garment industry with other apparel manufacturers in the United States.

The US lawmaker assured Tenorio that members of his delegation are here to listen and learn during their meeting with different groups, namely, the CNMI government and the private sector. “Our job is to stick to the truth and not just hysteria,” said Young who first came here 18 years ago to help draw up the Covenant.

Young noted the importance of diversifying the island’s tourism economy which has been dependent on Japan and Korea for its source of tourists. “It is wrong to have total responsibility of your economy relying on another country,” Young said as he noted the similarities with Alaska which has relied on the Japanese market for its salmon industry.

The governor has asked the federal government to give the CNMI the opportunity to implement more reforms in connection with labor and immigration as his administration has already began carrying out changes to address Washington’s concerns.

Federal officials are worried that commonwealth’s continued dependence on guest workers numbering between 28,000 and 30,000 will make it difficult for the local government to address growing labor abuses, curb entry of non-residents and raise wages to federal standards.