HANMI’s Knight takes 6-month leave

Century Hotel general manager and Saipan Tribune publisher Lynn Knight will be taking a six-month leave of absence from Tan Holdings Corp. in order to represent the governor in Washington D.C. on issues relating to the impending federalization law.

Knight said she would be using her past experience in the private sector to educate federal agencies on how potential regulations relating to federalization will affect the local economy.

“There needs to be a lot more education,” she said. “We need to give a lot more input on this issue.”

Knight will keep her title as chairperson of the Commonwealth Economic Development Strategy Commission, a position Gov. Benigno Fitial appointed her to in January 2008. Members of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, which Knight is the chair of, will fund the position. A vice chair will take over the daily responsibilities of HANMI, while managers within the other businesses will be appointed to fulfill her duties.

Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, said Knight is very knowledgeable and familiar with federalization issues and welcomes her support.

Reyes said he urges other business leaders to get involved because the new law will greatly impact the local economy.

In a letter written by Fitial appointing Knight, the governor said she would work in cooperation with Howard Willens, the governor’s special legal counsel. Fitial has instructed her to keep CNMI Rep. Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan and the CNMI Legislature’s Federalization Task Force up to date on the issues.

The new position will take effect Feb. 1. Knight, who will make a trip to the CNMI in April for an economic summit, said she will soon create a Web site where the public can access information and documents on the issues and work she does.

In March, Knight and Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Jim Arenovski traveled to Washington to meet with congressional staffers and department and agency personnel concerning the federalization law.

In May last year, President Bush signed the Consolidated Natural Resources Act into law. Starting June 1, unless otherwise delayed, U.S. immigration laws will apply to the CNMI. Several regulations relating to the new law are still under development.