Held at the multi-purpose center in Susupe, the event was witnessed by more than 200 community members.
Except for Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, the other candidates showed up for the forum organized by the Associate Students of Northern Marianas College, the Youth Affairs Office and the Youth Congress.
The participating candidates were John Oliver DLR. Gonzales, Ind.; Juan T. Lizama, Ind.; Chong Won, Ind.; Gregorio C. Sablan, Ind.; John H. Davis Jr., Ind.; Felipe Q. Atalig, Ind.; David M. Cing, Democrat; and Pete A. Tenorio, Republican.
They discussed the scholarship program, the federalization of local immigration, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the CUC privatization and CNMI-federal relations.
Asked about their plans to boost the CNMI economy, most of the candidates promised to bring fresh investments and support legislation that will improve the tourism industry.
Lizama said he wants to bring $30 million in federal money for the development of major infrastructure projects. He will also help promote CNMI tourism.
Cing said a portion of the Compact-Impact money from the federal government can help resolve the islands’ economic crisis.
Tenorio vowed to continue “pursuing federal grants and assistance.”
Sablan said, if elected, he will make the federal authorities understand the importance of tourism in the commonwealth and the need for the continued entry of Chinese, Russian and other tourists to the islands.
Davis said the CNMI should “stand in its own feet” and be creative in looking for remedies to its economic problems.
The islands, he added, should not be totally dependent on federal aid.
Regarding the federalization of local immigration and labor, three candidates said they support it.
Gonzales, Tenorio and Davis favor the “federal government’s exercise of its right to extend immigration authority to the CNMI” while Sablan, Lizama, Won, Cing and Atalig believe that “federalization came too early.”
Sablan pointed out that 435 companies in the CNMI are now at risk as a result of the federalization of local immigration.
“We have long-term investors and they need to face huge hurdles…this is one risk of federalization,” he said.
Tenorio, for his part, said the only way to deal with federalization is to ensure that it will create the best possible conditions for the islands.
Economy, CUC
The candidates said the depressed economy and the power crisis as a result of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s unreliable services are the most pressing issues that need immediate resolution.
Sablan said the CNMI should focus on tapping the resources of the sea and try to become self-sufficient at a time when the world is economically depressed.
Lizama for his part, said there’s a need to “re-examine CNMI-U.S. relations.”
Citing the “challenges and sufferings of the people” due to unreliable power utilities, all of the candidates, except for Atalig, said they support the privatization of CUC.
But they doubt if the $250 million price tag cited by the privatization law was realistic considering CUC’s dilapidated equipment.
Most of the candidates also said that there should be board members for CUC who do not protect “some vested interests.”
Tenorio said tapping Covenant monies for CUC rehabilitation can also be explored by the local government.
According to Atalig, “I oppose any move to privatize CUC because it’s the only one left to us…after the buyout of the telecom company [by PTI].”
The local telecommunications company, however, has always been privately owned even when it was still known as MTC.
Recycling efforts and homeland security matters were also discussed by the candidates.
