Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is forewarning CNMI businesses of possible closures as part of the government\u2019s aggressive campaign against COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re asking our business partners to please work with us,\u201d he said during a KMPP interview Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
Torres appealed for the business community\u2019s support that, should there be a directive for businesses to close as part of the measures to secure the island from the novel coronavirus, for businesses to do so willingly. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf there’s a directive to shut it down, it’s for your protection, and for the community and your patrons that support you,\u201d the governor said.<\/p>\n
Torres highlighted the crucial role of businesses, and asked for understanding should the government shut down restaurants, or when only a few gas stations and bars are permitted to remain open. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s for everyone’s benefit. \u2026Your financial loss, at the end of the day, is a gain when we don’t have any of your employee or any of your compatriots, or anyone in the community, having this virus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
There are restaurants that have remained open, while some have transitioned to providing purely take-out and delivery services.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always been pro-business. I’ve been supporting every business out there that asked for support. \u2026[Now] I’m asking all the business community to understand that, when we do a lockdown, I ask that you happily close it down for the safety of your staff, safety of your patrons that come to your bar or restaurant, and to everyone,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The governor related it to the criticisms the administration received following the issuance of the executive order that placed CNMI under a state of significant emergency. \u201cWhen we did this executive order, some criticism said, you’re killing our tourism market\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Torres clarified though that, in doing so, the CNMI\u2019s tourism market is saved. \u201cFor me, I’m actually saving our tourism market. If we’re able to shut everything down and\u2014we know that [with] this virus, [we\u2019re] trying as hard as we can\u2014 if we come out here with very minimal damage in terms of health issues, we’ll work on our economic upturn later.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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