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<\/p>\nIn recent weeks, the Commonwealth Ports Authority has raised airport fees by an astronomical 90% and hired D.C.-based law firm Kirstein & Young at $775\/hour to petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to exempt the Marianas from restrictions imposed on flights from the People\u2019s Republic of China. According to the CPA board\u2019s then-chair, the exorbitant fee hikes and eye-popping legal engagement were common-sense \u201cbusiness decisions,\u201d necessary to \u201cgenerate revenue\u201d and keep CPA afloat.<\/p>\n
The CPA board\u2019s agenda has thus far been driven by appointees of the notoriously PRC-friendly former governor Ralph Torres. The terms of two of his appointees, including the chair, at last expired a few days ago. But we must still deal with the consequences of the \u201cbusiness decisions\u201d they made that were neither sensible nor responsible, and ignored critical economic and geopolitical realities.<\/p>\n
CPA\u2019s unreasonable airport fee hikes amount to extortion, squeezing the Commonwealth\u2019s remaining airlines and discouraging new prospects. CPA\u2019s costly engagement with Kirstein & Young is funded by airport revenues that could be better spent improving airport facilities, retaining existing airlines, or reducing the burden of austerity on CPA\u2019s public servants. And CPA\u2019s use of government resources to pursue flights from the PRC dampens potential growth in other markets, contradicts Commonwealth policy, and undermines national security.<\/p>\n
At the beginning of his term, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios announced the Commonwealth\u2019s pivot away from its long-standing overreliance on Chinese investment, to focus on strengthening relationships and pursuing new opportunities with federal partners and allies in the region. The administration\u2019s position was a response to heightened national security concerns, the instability of Chinese markets, and geopolitical tensions associated with activities of the Chinese Communist Party in the Marianas and the wider Pacific.<\/p>\n
CPA\u2019s \u201cbusiness decisions\u201d fly in the face of both Commonwealth policy and national security. Whether they realize it or not, the CPA board has taken actions that impair the Commonwealth\u2019s economic recovery and play right into the hands of the CCP. Board leaders have essentially gone rogue\u2014courting Chinese investment, undermining the positions of the Commonwealth and the United States, driving away remaining airlines, discouraging the development of new markets, and racking up outrageous legal fees in the process.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, new leadership is about to take over CPA; the Senate is poised to confirm three of Governor Palacios\u2019 board nominees in the coming days. CPA\u2019s new leadership will have much work to do in cleaning up the mess left behind by their predecessors. Their mandate must include realigning CPA with Commonwealth and national policy, and resetting relationships with local and federal partners as well as the general public.<\/p>\n
The new board leaders will be off to a promising start if they move swiftly to roll back the excessive airport fee hikes, terminate the contract with Kirstein & Young, and withdraw the ill-conceived China petition.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tina Sablan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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