After meeting with members of the business community on Wednesday last week, House member acknowledged that the CNMI has not been too friendly to investors, local for foreign.
Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, said the CNMI’s business climate is not “too conducive” to businesses.
The utility rate is too “pricey,” the regulatory agencies are “overzealous, duplicative, time consuming and in disjoined disarray,” she added.
The cost of inter-island shipping charges is increasing due to monopoly and even the farmers are dismayed over the lack a permanent place for their cooperative, she said.
The hotel industry leaders, Ogumoro added, are asking why the CNMI missed the opportunity to “fix” its air-seat problem when Japan and the U.S. have already “sealed” their open skies agreement.
According to Ogumoro, in creating an economic development strategy, the availability of parks and cultural centers, a safe and friendly neighborhood, technology sector development and the expansion of public transportation system should be considered.
The recommendations presented by the private sector to the House during last week’s meeting are now being reviewed by lawmakers, she said.
Basa said once the priorities are set, “we’ve got to do them right away.”
The meeting, he added, was very important as it identified what had already been done but did not work.
Basa, Covenant-Saipan, also noted the concerns about the Commonwealth Health Center where “the service has been very horrible — people are dying as they are being diagnosed improperly.”
He said one of the participants pointed out that the meeting was no different from previous ones where elected officials “just talked and nothing was done.”
“Let me assure everyone that this Legislature is going to take all the information and make sure something will happen. We got to do it the right way,” Basa said, adding that there will be more meetings in the future.
