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Aranza gets lashing from Chamber
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Posted on Nov 02 2000
Saipan Chamber of Commerce director Richard Pierce yesterday lambasted Office of Insular Affairs Director Danny Aranza for his arrogance in saying that the labor situation in the CNMI is still “disgusting.”
Mr. Aranza visited the CNMI last week to deliver the $12 million federal funds. During his meeting with business leaders, Mr. Aranza offered to provide assistance in improving the economic situation in the Northern Marianas.
When businesses told him that the best thing he could do was to help them stop Washington’s plan to takeover local immigration and wage control, Mr. Aranza said he could not do anything about it since the position of U.S. President Clinton has not changed.
Mr. Aranza further claimed that is not aware of the Clinton administration’s stand on the Franks bill, which, if enacted, would deprive the CNMI of its trade privileges.
Again. Mr. Pierce said such comment made by Mr. Aranza is both evasive and irresponsible. “First of all, we know that the White House is definitely exerting pressure on both Houses of Congress to have the Franks bill attached to other legislation,” he said.
Mr. Pierce, who is currently the executive director of the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, said the comments of the OIA official about the state of the apparel industry proves his continuous refusal to recognize the improvements on the labor situation in the garment factories in Saipan.
In fact, he said Mr. Aranza has ignored the comments of OSHA and the National Retail Federation which have both noted the significant changes in the working conditions in the garment factories on the island.
