By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

GOVERNOR Benigno R. Fitial yesterday reiterated his administration’s commitment to bring in new investors and help businesses “flourish.”
In his remarks to the members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Fitial mentioned again the major points he made in his State of the Commonwealth Address on Friday: the government is still broke and the solution is to cut costs and ensure that it lives within its means.
He said his administration last year revised the budget from the “fantasy figure” of $213 million to a realistic $198.5 million.
For the first time in 10 years, he added, they achieved a balanced budget with a small surplus and have avoided adding more to the deficit.
He said he has further reduced the budget to $163.5 million this fiscal year.
He admitted that these “unprecedented” cost-cutting measures were politically unpopular but “absolutely necessary.”
“Now, it is time to focus on offense by aggressively attracting investments and providing the incentives for businesses to flourish,” the governor said.
According to Fitial, his administration is committed to controlling government costs, privatizing the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., reviving tourism, increasing investments, and maintaining access to workers and visitors by “working closely with the federal government.”
He said he is undertaking the “most serious privatization effort in our history.”
Chamber president Juan T. Guerrero said they wanted to hear from the governor.
“We expected him tell the members the current situation of the government, and it’s good to see him again,” Guerrero said.
He added that the members “wanted to know where he’s taking us and what changes will take place.”