Young’s aide satisfied with reforms – Teno

A key aide to U.S. House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) has expressed his satisfaction to local leaders over recent labor and immigration reforms they have put in place in efforts to quell federal takeover proposal in the Congress.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio disclosed yesterday that his meeting with Manase Mansur, adviser on insular and international affairs for the House panel who is visiting the island, has led to understanding the present conditions of the Northern Marianas.

He said the discussion tackled labor and immigration laws which his administration has implemented months after Young and other members of the committee visited the island last February.

Members of the Legislature were also present during the meeting held the other day in which Mansur also briefed them on the forthcoming oversight hearing in Washington D.C..

The Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the CNMI and other U.S. insular areas, has called the hearing on Sept. 16 to update the panel on conditions in the Commonwealth, including the status of federal assistance.

According to officials, Mansur has asked the island government to give him information in preparation for the inquiry. They declined to reveal specific details of the report.

Tenorio said he had assured the congressional official that his administration has made strides in its reform efforts, citing a law that provides up to $3,000 in compensation from the government to nonresident workers abandoned by their employers.

Passed immediately after Young recommended the measure during his visit, that law also allows repatriation of these alien workers who opt to return home in exchange for the monetary award.

“Of course, (Mansur) is satisfied because not only we passed the legislation, we did act on it and now we have sent home over 100 (workers) already out of our general funds,” the governor told reporters.

He also said that he has begun reprogramming some of the funds of the Department of Labor and Immigration to pay additional 50 guest workers who have expressed willingness to return to their homeland under the program.

While the meeting has been cordial, the island government does not expect to hear proposal from Mansur regarding its reform measures. “He did not come up with recommendations. His visit over here is a side-trip because I understand he’s visiting other Micronesian islands,” added Tenorio.

Mansur, who arrived on Saipan over the weekend, is scheduled to leave later this week. He has set meetings with both local and federal officials as well as representatives from the private sector.