THE Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, or GCEA, has published its End of Year Report, covering the council’s first full year of operations in 2021.
The council noted that the CNMI economy continues to mitigate and adjust to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, with accomplishments achieved in the year that aided in the recovery and further development of commercial activity throughout the islands.
Among the accomplishments touted in the report include the creation of the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, the expansion of public-private partnerships in the maintenance of community sites and facilities, universal garbage collection, a tourism resumption blueprint, and legislative proposals.
“As the first public law of the 22nd CNMI Legislature, the Marianas saw the establishment of the [CEDA] and the emphasis that future economic development in the Marianas should be driven by the needs and the desires of the community. This initial step is crucial in the Marianas’ ability to drive the economic development priorities of the community and for placing economic development as a proactive responsibility of an agency of government,” wrote the council in its report.
The report stated that last year, there was increased participation in its public private partnership program that aligned community organizations, businesses, and government agencies to the goal of upgrading and maintaining public facilities and sites throughout the Commonwealth.
To date, 82 organizations have signed on to support the adoption of 77 sites across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
The council thanked all the organizations and public sector agencies that have contributed to this effort and provided their time, resources, and skills to the goal of transforming these sites for future generations.
Building upon the council’s recommendation for the establishment of a universal garbage collection system for the CNMI, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, through Executive Order 2021-21, established the Universal Garbage Collection Task Force on Sept. 28, 2021.
Chaired by Gary Sword, the task force was assigned to produce a plan for the government that provides a pathway for the establishment of universal solid waste collection in homes and villages.
On Dec. 27, 2021, the task force submitted its report to the governor, outlining the methods by which the CNMI government can make universal garbage collection a reality for the many homes and villages in the Marianas.
“Through expanding access to garbage collection services and the availability of the public waste collection in beaches and parks, the report submitted by the task force provides for true community ownership of the issue and further implementation of the report’s recommendations will provide a lasting solution to this persistent problem in the Marianas,” the report stated.
As for the Tourism Resumption Blueprint, during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the council said it saw the need to envision a pathway that the Marianas can resume some level of tourism arrivals should the pandemic continue for a prolonged period.
The blueprint was created by the council, outlining a process for resuming arrivals that incorporated elements of the existing quarantine processes that aimed to provide for necessary Covid-19 risk mitigation protocols, while offering an enjoyable visit for potential tourists.
In March 2021, Torres created the Tourism Resumption Task Force to work toward a plan for continuation that would build upon this model.
Following the creation of the Tourism Resumption Investment Program, or TRIP, the Marianas became the first destination in the region to successfully negotiate and establish a tourism bubble with South Korea.
This bubble and the protocols established by the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Covid-19 task force saw the arrival of 2,984 Korean visitors between July and October 2021.
This surge in the Korean market provided 80% greater arrivals than the total arrivals from all origin countries in that same timeframe in 2020.
“While far from pre-pandemic levels, this pathway established a foundation of trust and collaboration with the Marianas’ largest tourism market during a period of significant curtailment in the demand for international travel,” the council report stated.
The council expressed gratitude to the CNMI Legislature for its support in advancing several of the recommendations presented in 2020 through legislation introduced for consideration.
As a result of recommendations presented by the council, several bills were introduced, including the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority Act of 2021.
The council said that it looks forward to the passage of House Bill 22-70, which will further enhance the powers and tools of CEDA to accomplish this important goal for the Commonwealth.
This year, the council said its outlook will include priority areas, including destination transformation, Marianas Village Pride, the environment, infrastructure, and inter-island transportation.
To view the full report in greater detail, visit https://www.cnmieconomy.com/reports
