Clarification from MVA

I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the recent article entitled “Livelihood vs Hobby” published in the Feb. 25, 2000 issue of the Saipan Tribune. I would first like to note that MVA was never asked to comment on the article. Had MVA been given this opportunity, many of the inaccuracies in the article could have been prevented.

The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) is mandated by Public Law 11-15 to ensure that commercial uses on or near tourist sites are encouraged, licensed, regulated, and controlled. This responsibility is also supported by an agreement between MVA and the Division of Public Lands. Through this agreement, the MVA has the supervisory authority and the responsibility of tourist sites including the beach front noted in the article.

The MVA presently licenses a total of 18 vendors on the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The activities licensed range from motorized and non-motorized sporting vehicles rentals to the selling of food and drinks. As mandated by Public Law 11-15, the MVA promulgated MVA Tourist Sites Regulations (published in the Commonwealth
Register, Vol. 20, No. 2 beginning at page 16464). These regulations outline the selection of vendors to our tourist sites. Section 7, under Permits for Motorized and Non-motorized Sporting Rental section (a) (i) and (ii) states as follows:

(i) A determination shall be made as to whether the applicant has sufficient experience, resources and background to conduct the motorized and non-motorized sporting rentals vending operation in a safe, healthy and successful manner.

(ii) Each motorized and non-motorized sporting rentals permit will be awarded to an applicant deemed qualified by MVA to operate, a motorized and non-motorized sporting rentals Vendor Site, and who submits the highest bid for the yearly permit for a specific Vendor Site…

To assist the MVA in the selection of qualified applicants for motorized and non-motorized sporting rentals, MVA organized a selection committee composed of officials from the Department of Public Safety, Boating Safety Division, Coastal Resources Management, Public Lands, Department of Commerce and the MVA. The responsibility of the selection committee was to review all submitted bids and applications to ensure that each meets the criteria set forth in the request for proposals.

There were five applicants for the Dai-ichi/Hyatt Regency Hotels beach front; this tourist site is designated to accommodate only four vendors. All vendor applications, including Mr. Alvarez’s (dba Saipan E Tours) application, were reviewed and given due consideration. It was determined by the selection committee and the MVA that all the applicants, including Mr. Alvarez, had sufficient experience, resources, and background to conduct the vending operation in a safe, healthy, and successful manner. Thus, the award of vendor permits was based on the bid amount of the applicants as required in the MVA Rules and Regulations.

Regarding Mr. Manny Alvarez’s claim that the MVA recently decided to grant a beach concession to another vendor owned by Mr. Vann Le. To a degree, this is a true statement. However, the applicant who submitted the fourth lowest bid, and subsequently outbid Mr.. Alvarez for the fourth and last spot, was Mr. Alexander P. Sablan and his partner, the Min Young Corporation. Their bid price was a $100.00 more per month or $1,200 per year over Mr. Alvarez’s bid, not $50.00 as noted in the article. Incidentally, Mr. Sablan, as a result of Mr. Alvarez’s continued operation at the beach front, is unable to begin his operations due to the litigation that Mr. Alvarez filed against MVA.

With regards to Mr. Vann Le, I would like to set the record straight in noting that his bid was $800 more per month or $9,600 per annum over the submission of Mr. Alvarez. Mr. Le has also invested thousands of dollars in boating equipment and provided the selection committee with credentials that established his qualifications to be a vendor at the designated tourist site.

Finally, the MVA has been an ardent supporter of local entrepreneurs as demonstrated by the programs organized and designed to promote the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Our working relationship with the community, the business organizations, and the various government agencies will attest to the fact that the MVA supports local artists and craftsmen, assists local residents in the tourism industry, and most especially, provides information to the young students of the islands’ schools regarding tourism, the CNMI’s most important industry.

In conclusion, there are a limited number of tourist sites in the CNMI, while there are numerous applications. It is impossible to appease everyone who has applied for a tourist vendor site permit. Thank you for the opportunity to address some of the issues and concerns and to clarify some of the inaccuracies raised by your “Livelihood vs. Hobby” article.

Perry John P. Tenorio
Managing Director
Marianas Visitors Authority