Babauta, who was yesterday’s guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Saipan, said it is important that the local leadership unite and work together in order for the commonwealth’s voice to be heard in Washington, D.C.
“The delegate who will be elected by the people should work with the governor, with the Legislature and with all other elected leaders to overcome the difficult times we are going through,” Babauta said.
He said the local leadership is not working together, and this division is not doing any good to the CNMI.
“If Washington sees that we are not working together, it will not listen to us and our concerns will not be addressed,” he said.
Before the CNMI had a delegate to Congress, the commonwealth had been at the very bottom of the list of states and insular areas.
“We were always left out, with the lowest gross domestic product and getting the least in federal grants,” said Babauta, who served for 12 years as the CNMI’s Washington representative.
Local tax control
Babauta said the CNMI needs to have total control of its tax structure to attract more investors and businesses.
“If we have total control of our local tax structure, we can tailor it to suit our needs and this is important because how we control it can either encourage or discourage investors,” he said.
Immigration issues
For the CNMI to move, Babauta said it needs to address its immigration and job creation issues.
“We are in a situation where businesses are holding on to their money and investors are backing off. We need to stabilize the economy to sustain it,” he said.
Improved status for guest workers as recommended by the Department of the Interior is a very sensitive and emotional issue, he added.
“The discussion on immigration should focus on how to fix the ailing economy and the level of labor it requires to keep it going and sustainable,” Babauta said.
The discussion should be about the CNMI’s need for labor, not about granting U.S. citizenship to foreign workers.
Babauta said to keep the CNMI economy afloat, a long-term work permit or visa is one option that is worthy of consideration.
Platform
Babauta’s platform also includes education, tourism, federal relations, the establishment of a National Guard unit, compensation for the local Marine Scouts, transportation issues between Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam, Social Security and Retirement Fund, right-of way, land takings and land compensation, veterans clinic, job creation and training through technical and vocational education, minimum wage, environment, alternative energy, submerged lands, Trust Territory wage discrimination lawsuit and courtroom decision, Tinian military land, youth initiatives, drug trafficking, restoration of the $27.7 million Covenant funding, autism, indigenous culture, tradition and natural resources.
