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More deserving local awardees
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Posted on Mar 03 2005
We thank the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for their vital service and important contributions to our community. I am writing with respect to the selection of the “Business Person of the Year” at the installation dinner of the new incoming officers.
I am sure that Mr. Mark Erwin, CEO of Continental Air Micronesia, made some contributions to our area in the airline industry. It is disturbing, however, that the Chamber failed to acknowledge year after year local indigenous business owners who made it on their own. For years, we’ve given away this title to outsiders who have made the Commonwealth their “second home.” For some odd reason the Chamber failed to recognize notable local individuals who have contributed so much to the business community. They have made it on their own; ran their own company; expanded and diversified business opportunities; and took some risk to be where they are today. But yet, the Chamber seems to be selecting individuals using different criteria. Is there a popularity contest or lobbying effort amongst the members when it comes to select the recipient of this award?
Joeten Enterprises in itself is a success story of a local individual, the late Mr. Jose C. Tenorio, who started with a small store in Chalan Kanoa and built his company into one of the largest business conglomerate in our region. Mr. Tenorio “Joeten” passed away and his children are running the business. The main person behind this success story is Mrs. Annie Tenorio Sablan. Mrs. Sablan should have been recognized and awarded as the “Business Person of the Year!”
Juan Diego C. Blanco
Saipan
