LOCAL businesspersons yesterday met with the House of Representatives from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to present their thoughts on how to save the CNMIs faltering economy.
Jim Arenovski, who runs a management corporation, told lawmakers that œwe rely on you guys to make all these happen, referring to the recommendations they presented.
œWe got to have some progress, he added.
Tony Pellegrino, who runs several businesses, suggested that they meet again after three months to check on their progress.
Economic recovery was the goal of the meeting, said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan.
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, said all the recommendations will be taken into consideration as she noted the urgency to œsave the CNMI.
The meeting was attended by government officials and businesspersons who made recommendations regarding tax and business regulations; tourism marketing and transportation; manpower and federal regulations; banking, investment and Article 12; and government services and utilities.
For each of these concerns, a group was formed to come up with specific proposals.
First on the list was the need to fund the Marianas Visitors Authoritys Japan tour operator incentive program.
They also recommended the full enforcement of current tax laws and the implementation of a site/product development or tourist area enhancement program.
Incentives in hiring U.S. citizens, educational programs, a federal subsidy on fuel cost, taxes on products manufactured outside the CNMI, alternative energy sources and a tour guide certification program were also suggested.
Before their meeting finished, the lawmakers and businesspersons agreed to sort out which of these recommendations could be done straight away and which would take a while.
Arenovski said the full enforcement of tax laws should be done first.
McDonalds owner Jose Ayuyu said MVAs incentive program along with site development should also be priorities.
Acting Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar believes that providing incentives to businesses that hire local workers is another priority.
Basa said some of the other recommendations, like the privatization of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., may take a while.
But he said those that may be achieved in a small period of time will be implemented immediately.
New thoughts
Ayuyu noted that some of the recommendations discussed yesterday were not new.
œLet us talk about two new things that we can do right now and not the things that we have done in the past and did not work, he said.
Ayuyu said he doubts whether the government can force businesses who to hire.
Arenovski and Pellegrino, for their part, want to see more local residents acquiring trade skills.
Bobbie Marfalen of Northern Marianas College said businesses should be given incentives to hire NMC graduates.
Del Benson, a professional photographer who is also into real estate, said œwe got to do something about what we have now. Minimize the government, maximize the private sector. We got to quit talking and start doing.
Arenovski said the government should œdo away with the duplication of services and redefine government services.
To entice more investments, Marianas Public Land Trust consultant Bruce McMillan suggested a new tax classification for foreign investors who may want to establish office here but operate in many different countries.
He said the CNMI has a lot to offer to global businesses.
œWe should provide them an simple method of doing business here, McMillan added.
Former Commerce Secretary Michael Ada, who now runs Integrated Professional Solutions, said the government must ensure that it collects what is owed by taxpayers through the full implementation of current tax laws.
Article source: http://www.mvariety.com/2011011233403/local-news/make-it-happen.php
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