Moves on to keep PBDC afloat

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio disclosed plans yesterday to meet with representatives of other Pacific island nations to discuss plans to keep the Pacific Basic Development Council afloat amid financial problems.

The governor together with Special Assistant Mike Malone left yesterday for Washington DC. During the trip, Mr. Tenorio will also attend the Annual Winter meeting of the National Governors Association.

In an interview with reporters, Mr. Tenorio said a meeting with governors of Guam and American Samoa, has been scheduled to discuss the future of the PBDC.

“We’re going to talk about the PBDC and what actions are needed to be done,” said the governor.

The three leaders will tackle possible solution on how to continue the function of the PBDC despite major financial problems including inability of the office to maintain key personnel.

PBDC, which was formed in 1980’s to protect the interest of insular areas, ran into financial problems when the State of Hawaii bailed out of the organization more than year ago.

Guam Gov. and PBDC President Carl Gutierrez earlier admitted that since Hawaii’s resignation, the organization faced difficulties in trying to secure funds to keep the body running.

PBDC is believed to be in deep financial need since a significant amount from membership fees remain uncollected.

The CNMI alone failed to pay its membership dues when it re-entered the Council following Gov. Tenorio’s assumption into office in January 1998. The governor did not allocate funds for PBDC in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget.

No payment has been made by the CNMI since it renewed its membership in 1998, although Mr. Tenorio appropriated funds for PBDC in his FY-1999 budget.

The governor allocated some $35,000 in total funds for the regional organization under the fiscal year 1999 appropriations.

In 1998, Mr. Tenorio met with the leadership of the Hawaii-based organization to discuss issues that would directly or indirectly affect the Northern Marianas once the Commonwealth rejoins the Council.

The CNMI had been very reluctant in re-joining the PBDC despite continuous invitation from the leadership of the PBDC since the Commonwealth bailed out of the regional organization.

CNMI withdrew from the PBDC during the administration of former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio, who also quit the National Governors Association. The CNMI has not rejoined the Council since then.

CNMI had been a member of PBDC since the organization was established in 1980. It was established, initially, to foster regional economic and social development.

The Council’s initial membership include the governors of the US-affiliated Pacific islands of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the CNMI.

PBDC’s programs of action includes the Pacific Coral Reef Initiative, Island First Responder Project, Electronic Monitoring System among others. (EGA)