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Garment resident managers seek public apology from DPS chief
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Posted on Oct 27 1999
The association of resident managers of the island’s garment manufacturing firms has demanded a retraction from Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram who claimed that 99 percent of women engaged in illegal sex trade on Saipan are garment factory workers.
In a letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, some 25 resident managers of the association expressed concern over “thoughtless and offensive comments” made by Ingram which they said slandered the industry’s local and guest workers.
While Ingram has sent a letter of apology to SGMA executive director Richard Pierce, “it did little more except to create publicity.”
“The fact that a top government official appointed by the Governor could carelessly damage our reputation without any recourse concerns us greatly. As you well know, the CNMI is in a precarious position at this time with a federal takeover hanging over our heads,” the letter said.
The resident managers said they have already received reports from Washington D.C. that Ingram’s comments have been picked up by those who would like to see the garment industry shutdown and take away the CNMI’s local control of labor, immigration and trade advantages.
SGMA has recently hired Pricewaterhouse Coopers to conduct an independent monitoring scheduled to begin next month, which proves the industry’s commitment to police themselves and improve the industry.
“We are confident that we can become model factories and that we can continue to contribute a greatly-needed source of revenue for our island for years to come — but we can’t do it without the support of our government officials,” the letter added.
The garment industry employs 750 Chamorros and Carolinians and, approximately 2,500 local hires. It generates $85 million out of the $210 million annual budget for the CNMI.
