![\"Gov.](\"http:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Soca-left-pix-copy.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cThat\u2019s what making it happen is all about,\u201d he said at one point, about a $1.3 billion projected economic activity this year\u2014an increase of $200 million from last year.<\/p>\n
Throughout his address interspersed with 20 rounds of applause, Inos made no mention of the word \u201ccasino,\u201d which has become one of his administration\u2019s major revenue-generating measures but has been the subject of litigation and other objections.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, we must await the decision of the courts before we can have a concrete date to put your money back in your pockets,\u201d he told the crowd at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.<\/p>\n
Because of the litigation, the Lottery Commission, in their meeting on Capital Hill yesterday afternoon, didn\u2019t announce any decision whether to grant\u2014and to whom\u2014a license to exclusively develop a minimum $2-billion integrated casino resort on Saipan. Instead, the commission prepared for court proceedings related to casino lawsuits this week.<\/p>\n
The governor asked for peoples\u2019 patience while \u201cwork is still being done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter how many people try to stop this effort, I will keep fighting to give you your money back,\u201d the governor said, drawing applause from the crowd, many of them also retirees waiting for their deferred 25 percent pension since last year.<\/p>\n
He said tourism would always be an important industry but that it cannot be the CNMI\u2019s sole economic driver. He pointed out that with the help of the Legislature and the people, they will continue to attract new industries and jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all due respect to the lawyers in attendance, we cannot sue our way to prosperity. We must be proactive and seek out potential new investors,\u201d Inos said.<\/p>\n
The Senate and House of Representatives held a joint session at 10am yesterday to receive the governor\u2019s SOCA, as well as a report from Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP). <\/p>\n
All nine senators were present, while two of 20 House members were absent: Reps. Christopher Leon Guerrero (Cov-Saipan) and Teresita Santos (R-Rota). <\/p>\n
It was Inos\u2019 first SOCA. He became governor on Feb. 20, 2013, when Benigno R. Fitial resigned in the middle of an unprecedented impeachment process. Then-Senate president Jude U. Hofschneider became Inos\u2019 lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n
Inos is running for the first time as a governor in a CNMI election this November. He is facing three other gubernatorial candidates.<\/p>\n
\u2018Too fast\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Inos shifted to the U.S. military\u2019s plans for the CNMI, after talking about the recent commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian and after recognizing the men and women from the CNMI that served and continue to serve the armed forces.<\/p>\n The U.S. military, Inos said, is changing its focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific theater. This, he said, would change the CNMI \u201cinto what would be one of the world\u2019s largest military training bases covering land, sea, and air.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe as your governor, these proposed changes are happening too fast,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe that we must carefully weigh and consider the proposed military activities planned to take place [on] our islands.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. military eyes expanding its use of Tinian, and to use Pagan in the Northern Islands for military training, including bombing activities.<\/p>\n Col. Philip J. Zimmerman, officer-in-charge for the U.S. Marine Corps Activity Guam, the ranking military official in attendance at the SOCA yesterday, noted that both the governor and the delegate recognized that environmental impact studies are being conducted in connection with planned military activities in the CNMI.<\/p>\n Inos also reiterated his position that a U.S. Air Force divert airfield should be placed on Tinian rather than Saipan.<\/p>\n \u2018Collaboration\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n The governor also spoke about collaboration in government.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, I\u2019m proud to share with each and every one of you that the State of our Commonwealth is once again experiencing true collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches as well as our U.S. congressional delegate. This partnership, and with the people standing by our side, has resulted in the Commonwealth experiencing exponential growth,\u201d the governor said.<\/p>\n He said as a result of the retirement settlement agreement, the CNMI has shrunk the general fund deficit from $300 million to $70 million.<\/p>\n The CNMI also increased its annual appropriation from a low of $102 million to now $135 million.<\/p>\n Inos also thanked Delegate Sablan for together, they were successful in passing a submerged lands bill, getting renewed assistance from the federal government in helping secure additional funds, and securing a five-year extension of the CW program that allows the CNMI continued access to some 10,000 skilled and professional foreign workers up to 2019.<\/p>\n He also called on government-private sector partnership in fostering \u201ca generation of workers, people with skill, drive and passion,\u201d as the CNMI prepares its U.S. workforce for the eventual end of the foreign worker program in five years.<\/p>\n The governor reported on funding for education that meets federal requirements, as well as successful consolidation of agencies without disrupting public services. He also took note of Northern Marianas College\u2019s removal from show-cause status and reaffirmation of its accreditation.<\/p>\n More numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n In keeping with the theme of an improving CNMI economy, the governor pointed out that the islands have attracted new investors.<\/p>\n The CNMI has issued a little over 800 new business licenses in the past year and a half alone, he said.<\/p>\n At the same time, the CNMI\u2019s bankruptcy rate is the least per capita in the nation, Inos added.<\/p>\n After seeing tourism on the brink of collapse, the governor said the visitor industry is seeing a \u201csignificant rebound.\u201d <\/p>\n Total visitor arrivals are expected to reach 472,000 this year, nearly a 9-percent increase from last year, citing data from the Marianas Visitors Authority\u2019s managing director Perry Tenorio.<\/p>\n Inos said the CNMI has gone from having too many empty rooms to not having enough rooms to accommodate tourists. He recognized E Land Group for rebranding the former The Palms Resort to the global brand Sheraton, while also acknowledging continued efforts by Hafadai Beach Hotel, Hyatt Regency Saipan, and Mariana Resort, among others.<\/p>\n The governor also thanked long-term and locally-owned businesses like Joeten Enterprises and its group of companies, Herman\u2019s Modern Bakery, Triple J, and Tan Holdings, to name a few.<\/p>\n The governor also spoke of the CNMI and Guam\u2019s collaboration, including addressing trade barriers between the two so that cattle import and export would become a reality this year.<\/p>\n Inos also said the solvency of the Retirement Fund has been extremely touchy, and that he has done \u201cand will continue to do everything possible to ensure that this situation is resolved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe still have a long way to go, but a solution has been identified and we are hopeful that we will be able to honor our obligations as quickly as possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The governor said 90 percent of residents now have 24-hour water services\u2014an 80-percent increase from just two years ago.<\/p>\n Through Department of Public Works\u2019 staff and federal partners\u2019 aid, the CNMI has obtained and executed more than $11 million in contracts to improve roads and highways within the last 36 months.<\/p>\n In the last 16 months alone, a total of $33 million in capital improvement project funds have been obligated to help improve people\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n In the next 90 days, additional obligations of over $20 million will go toward other projects on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The governor also spoke about the revitalization of the Carolinian Utt in Garapan.<\/p>\n The governor also said spoke about the lifting of a 1999 consent decree on the Department of Corrections in connection with the prison, as well as rehabilitation of the Saipan airport\u2019s runway. He noted an increase in food stamp assistance for residents needing help.<\/p>\n Toward the end of his address, the governor said, \u201cWe have made a whole lot of progress, but much more must be done and our work will not stop to identifying the solutions necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n He said together with the lieutenant governor, the delegate, the Senate president, the House speaker and their colleagues, they will continue to build on improving the quality of life in the CNMI.<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot sit idly by, we will not stop our efforts, and we will not change our resolve to make the CNMI more prosperous for all citizens. While we are making significant progress in identifying and enacting solutions, there are many more mountains we have to climb,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, when asked for comment on the SOCA, said he thinks both the governor\u2019s report and the delegate\u2019s report \u201cgive us an overall picture, a true picture of our situation in the CNMI and how it relates to Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think the sum total of their message is crystal clear: Elected leaders of the CNMI, please work together to try to overcome those hurdles that lie between us and Washington, D.C.,\u201d Castro told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n Alex Sablan, president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, said the governor provided a \u201cconcise overview of the CNMI\u2019s trials, tribulations, and ultimate successes that we can call achieve if we work together.\u201d<\/p>\n Senate floor leader Ray Yumul (Ind-Saipan), however, noted that the governor didn\u2019t mention the CNMI\u2019s problems related to interisland transportation; for example, the lack of air service between Rota and Saipan\/Guam.<\/p>\n House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), for his part, thinks the governor\u2019s SOCA is a \u201cfair portrayal of the issues and challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re expecting dramas, lightning and thunder, it\u2019s not there but it\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing. At least strides are forward motion, which I think has been lacking all these years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan) was expecting more about the CNMI\u2019s financial conditions other than what\u2019s been done. <\/p>\n \u201cI was expecting more about where we needed to be, rather than what we\u2019ve done. One also caught my attention, when the governor said we have to wait for the decision of the court,\u201d Yumul said, referring to the casino litigation.<\/p>\n Ramon B. Camacho, chairman of the Saipan Municipal Council, said the governor\u2019s message was \u201cgood\u201d when he said elected leaders need to work together. \u201cSet aside politics, because we have pressing issues before us,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" More than 16 months since his unprecedented rise to power, Gov. Eloy S. 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