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‘Give them what they need’
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Posted on Mar 09 2006
Everyone who knows me knows that I have never been a great fan of the garment industry. Some of the factory owners have not been exactly good citizens but it is also fair to say that there have been many industry improvements in the past decade. The factories that remain opened today are those that abide by the law; those that have closed were the so-called troublemakers.
From what I gather from the print and TV news, the industry is asking for a break from user and other fees since the cost of doing business here is no longer competitive to doing business in Vietnam, China and the Philippines.
I also believe that when Mr. James Lin says something, he is speaking the truth. I know Mr. Lin to be an honorable person. When Mr. Lin says that doing business in the NMI is no longer competitive with other countries, I can bet my last dollar that he is not just speaking the truth but I also know that he knows his facts.
The Legislature should look into this matter closely and compare what we gain and what we give away with the proposals before them at this time. Many people, myself included, rightfully point out that the textile industry continues to place a huge burden on our infrastructure—water and sewer systems. The industry is labor intensive and it requires nonresident workers and many of those workers remain on island after their employers close shop and flee the NMI. But those that remain open today are the factories that lawfully employ both resident and nonresident workers.
Now, and particularly because I can attest to the honest character and stellar citizenship of Mr. James Lin, the government should look into the bottom line of what will keep the industry on island and give the factory owners the competitive break they seek. Do not just give them what they want, but give them what they need to remain on island and to stay open for business.
All factories will eventually find it too expensive to do business in our islands. At that time, there would be nothing our government could do to keep them here. But we could look back and say that we helped them stay opened longer, even if only for the short additional time period.
Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan
Garapan, Saipan
