JOAQUIN G. ADRIANO

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Elementary: Tinian
High School: Marianas High School
College: Criminal Justice-21 credits

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Senator for Tinian, incumbent Senate President, CNMI Legislature
Previous Jobs:
Police Captain (15 years)
One-term Tinian Municipal Council chairman
Two-term CNMI congressman
Eight years as CNMI Senator

Q. What would you consider the top three issues or concerns facing the CNMI that demand immediate action from our government leaders?

A. There are three issues facing immediate action from our government leaders:

Economic: Revenue generation through an aggressive marketing in the Asian market to bring in new investors with the assistance of the U.S. State Department as required by our Covenant with the United States. “Revenue” = “Progress”

Airline transportation: CNMI leadership should invite all elements which are connected with the tourism industry for a comprehensive summit: airlines, travel agencies and hotel operators.

CNMI ports should be actively operating in order for commerce to positively improve their activity, which means all ports (air and sea ports) should be developed to accommodate inbound ocean passengers liners and cargo ships.

Q. What ideas can you bring to the table to revive the CNMI economy?

A. This is answered in number two-bullet paragraph one above.

Q. What is your vision for the Commonwealth and Tinian? And what are the steps that must be taken to achieve that vision?

A. My vision of the future of CNMI and Tinian is a successful tourist destination for most people from the Asian market. Steps required involve:

1. More controlled development on each of the three major islands: such as golf courses on Tinian; condo for Japanese retirees in CNMI; more casino/hotel complex on Tinian

2. More direct air and sea transportation to all three major islands.

Q. What needs to be changed in people’s ways of thinking and doing things as a means to help you achieve your vision?

A. CNMI residents should respect each other by allowing equal distribution of wealth to all three major islands. I say this because many on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are not seeing each other as equally important (local protectionism). These attitudes are reflected in many governmental agencies, as anyone can see in the big disparity in development between less developed Tinian and Rota compared with Saipan.