Owie?
ACCORDING to a lawmaker, the most disappointing thing about the Hyatt’s impending closure is that they, the powers that be, were not informed beforehand. In fairness, the lawmaker may have misspoken. Surely he believes that what is truly most disappointing is the news that 146 employees (most of whom are local workers) will lose their jobs when a well-known hotel brand leaves the island in June. This a terrible blow to what is left of the tourism-based economy — and the CNMI government’s tax base. Hyatt’s decision indicates a loss of confidence in the short- or long-term prospects of the CNMI, and may influence the decision of other tourism-related businesses as they contemplate their future in the Commonwealth.
Although many of them may feel sorry for their elected officials who are nursing their hurt feelings, most local residents and businesspersons would rather hear what the CNMI government intends to do now to help prevent the closure of another major investor on island.
We’re all ears.
Alms seeking
DURING the Covid years, the then-opposition lawmakers complained about the former administration’s initiatives to revive the tourism industry, specifically the lack of immediate results. But now that they are in charge, they have realized that “these things take time.”
This administration’s preferred “solution” consists of 1) depending on one market, South Korea, and hoping that it will grow further; while 2) enticing more Japanese tourists, who, so far, would rather go to Guam or somewhere else; and 3) tapping new tourism markets such as Taiwan and Australia. All of which — now they tell us — will take time.
Meanwhile, the administration has wrapped itself in the American flag, declared fealty to the U.S. military and its strategic mission in the Indo-Pacific region while asking Uncle Sam for more financial and other forms of assistance. It turns out, however, that banking on the generosity of the U.S. government — especially if you do not cast presidential electoral votes — takes time, too.
Will the 902 talks speed things up? The last consultations occurred in 2019, and one of the recommendations was the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program — or EVS-TAP — for Chinese tourists. That was five years ago. It has yet to be implemented. How confident are we that the feds — in this highly charged election season — would move faster on what is virtually a CNMI bailout proposal?
Meanwhile, as we wait for the fruition of the administration’s initiatives, there is an urgent need to plug the ongoing revenue leak. (So far in this fiscal year, the reported revenue shortfall amounts to $9.4 million.)
How about we talk about that, too, publicly?
Continue blaming the past it is
LAST week, a House minority bloc member told his colleagues that “if all we’re going to continue to do is blame the past, then we will never move ahead.”
But if they stop mentioning the alleged misdeeds of the previous leadership — who have been kicked out by the voters already, are under investigation and/or facing charges — what would the new majority talk about?
How their proposed tax/fee hikes could harm businesses, impose higher costs on consumers, and result in less revenue?
What about government payroll, insurance payments, utilities, medical referrals?
And where to get additional money for the retirees’ 25% when the $5 million from CEDA runs out in August?
