Businesses: Speeches were realistic, spot on

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association of the Northern Marianas gave a thumbs-up to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s State of the Commonwealth Address delivered yesterday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. Lawmakers were, however, more unforgiving.

Chamber president James T. Arenovski said the islands’ chief executive hit the nail on the head when he said that one of the most pressing issues that need to be addressed is the Commonwealth’s dire power situation.

He said the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s problems—blackouts and high cost of power—is in a way graver than the issues on federalization of CNMI immigration and impending minimum wage increase.

The Chamber president said that without reliable power, current businesses on the islands cannot survive, much less new companies coming in to invest.

Arenovski also lauded the governor for making a move to have the federal government set aside $30 million for financial aid for both the CNMI and American Samoa.

He said the $15 million each jurisdiction would receive is a start, especially if the second round of minimum wage increase pushes through as scheduled on May 25.

For her part, Hotel of the Northern Mariana Islands chair Lynn A. Knight said the SOCA delivered by the governor was powerful and realistic.

“I was impressed to learn about the significant cost-savings that has occurred in the tune of many millions of dollars. I also didn’t realize the government had downsized by so many personnel. This is difficult, but certainly necessary.”

She also urged everyone to band together and help the administration during these tough times.

“We should all be concerned about the state of the Commonwealth economy and everyone needs to pitch in to help. We are not in the clear with our economy by any means, but it is apparent that the self-discipline is making a difference.”

House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios called the governor’s assessment of the state of the Commonwealth “fluffy.”

“It was not as candid as I would have wanted it to be,” said the speaker.

He also said that the economic developments cited by the governor were a rehash of his previous report.

Rep. Diego T. Benavente, a part of a gubernatorial tandem that ran opposite Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez in 2005, said the lack of applause or standing ovations seen in previous SOCAs showed the public’s disappointment with the administration.

“He won the election on a claim that he knew where to find the revenue. All of this talk about

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cuts, all of the finger-pointing—we would not have come to this if he did what he promised to do,” Benavente said.

Former Chamber president and local businessman Tony Pellegrino, meanwhile, said he was very pleased with Washington Representative’s Pete A. Tenorio’s speech.

“I think…Tenorio gave a very realistic address of the situation we are in. He knows the pulse of the U.S. government. He is the only one in the government that is stating that it is about time we change our attitude away from what we have been thinking and doing in the past.”

He agreed with Tenorio that going against the U.S. Congress on the CNMI federalization issue would not put the CNMI in good stead.

“The U.S. will drag the CNMI into the future. We cannot keep looking back at what was. The age of cheap labor is gone. We, the citizens of the CNMI, must become our own workers. We must become educated and skilled workers. That is our only true asset.”

Pellegrino added, “We cannot use other people to do our work. Recall that the governor said that 75 percent of our labor is nonresident. What are the residents doing? Sitting down watching the show? Or collecting food stamps? Last year over 8,400 people collected food stamps. I am glad that federalization is now upon us. Perhaps we will wake up.”[B][I] (Agnes E. Donato)[/I][/B]