Senate confirms 3 MVA board members

The Senate confirmed yesterday the appointment of three members of the Marianas Visitors Authority board, but not after some grilling by a senator on issues relating to the pullout of the Japan Airlines.

Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, chair of the Senate committee on economic development, moved for a recess during a Senate session yesterday to convene his committee and called in appointees Marian Aldan-Pierce and David M. Sablan, who were both in the chamber, for questioning.

Short of faulting the MVA for the pullout of JAL this year, Crisostimo said the agency “should have been more aggressive” in dealing with airline companies to make them stay.

“I wouldn’t say failure but as a board, you’re there,” he said.

He said the agency’s actions in view of current problems facing the airline industry “are not satisfying.”

For her part, Aldan-Pierce said the JAL pullout was not the CNMI’s fault at all.

“It came as a surprise to everybody. Now, as soon as we found out, we put together a delegation, headed by the governor, to meet with JAL and other groups,” she said, adding that the pullout is JAL’s business decision.

Crisostimo, meantime, said that the Legislature has approved a total of $2.8 million this year for MVA-related programs, yet the marketing of the MVA seems to continue to suffer.

“We gave you money to give you a competitive edge over other destinations,” said Crisostimo.

Sablan said results of marketing strategies would not happen overnight.

“You don’t see the results a few months later. You have to understand that it takes time,” he said, adding, “What disturbs me for a long time is the continuing resolution at which we operate…We used to receive $7 million but when the parks maintenance was taken from us, we’re down to $5.9 million. We’re operating on a budget that’s enacted four years ago. If you continue not to pass a new budget…, we’ll not move forward,” he said.

He said that the MVA board is composed of topnotch people who are limited in terms of doing work due to the lack of funding.

In the meantime, he said that the CNMI is competing with all other international destinations, most of which have currencies that give far more value to tourists dollars.

“You’re competing with places like Bali, Thailand,” he said.

A U.S. dollar is 50 to 100 times more expensive than the currencies in most developing countries in Asia.

“But the overriding problem is we keep operating on the same budget. Unless there’s a new budget, we can’t change the gear,” said Sablan.

Crisostimo expressed doubts that MVA cannot operate at $5.9 million, to which Sablan replied that Guam has $14 million just for the Guam Visitors Bureau.

“We’re measly at $5.9 million. You worry about Japan. I worry not only about Japan but Korea, China, Taiwan, Russia. …I suggest that you pass friendly legislation. Take a look at business and take a closer look at MVA,” he said.

During the meeting, Crisostimo said that MVA should make sure to promote not only Saipan but also Tinian and Rota overseas. Aldan-Pierce said it is being done now.

The senator also questioned the MVA’s decision to hire a Canadian firm to promote the CNMI in Japan. “Why give this to somebody who’s not Japanese? We should respect their [Japan] own people, too,” said Crisostimo.

After Crisostimo’s questioning, the Senate reconvened and confirmed the governor’s re-appointment of Aldan-Pierce and Sablan as well as the appointment of Edward U. Maratita for the MVA board.

Aldan-Pierce and Sablan represent Saipan while Maratita represents Rota.

Early on, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Pedro I. Itibus as member of the Commonwealth Development Authority board of directors, representing Saipan, and Alvin A. King as member of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission representing Rota.