CITING the hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the CNMI Marine Sports Association is seeking economic assistance from the Commonwealth government.
Nahidul Islam of Sakura Marine Sports Company and an authorized representative of the association said they have sent letters to the Office of the Governor, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Coastal Resources Management, and U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
Islam noted that tourists from South Korea are given $500 each to spend in the CNMI. “But what about us, marine sports operators — why is there no assistance for us?”
According to the CNMI Marine Sports Association, its members’ sports operation has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are out of business since the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020,” the association stated.
“Since all incoming flights were suspended last year due to the pandemic and there is no tourist on island…we have no operation, and thus all of our equipment is sitting idle for the past two years,” Islam said.
“As there is no income, we are entirely broke,” he added.
“We will be permanently out of business if we do not get any assistance from the government. We learned that the government is assisting all the other businesses on island that are experiencing difficulties due to the pandemic, but we the marine sports operators did not receive anything yet.”
Islam said the island’s marine sports operators need immediate assistance to save the marine sports industry.
“We have no other way to protect or save our business…please help us and provide assistance to the marine sports businesses that are affected by the pandemic,” he added.
