Paul A. Manglona
SENATOR Paul A. Manglona has prefiled Senate Bill 23-65, which would authorize the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission to review charges at CNMI seaports.
The bill proposes to include privately operated seaports in Public Law 16-9’s definition of “regulated entities.”
S.B. 23-65 defines privately owned seaports as “all seaports in the CNMI under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Ports Authority that are leased to private companies to provide seaport and stevedoring operations.”
According to the bill, there is only one seaport in each respective senatorial district in the CNMI, and they are under CPA’s jurisdiction. With only one seaport in each senatorial district and one private company providing seaport and stevedoring services, “there is no competition.” Without competition, the private company “essentially levies fees as it sees fit,” the bill stated.
It added that no entity regulates the fees for seaport and stevedoring charges, so authorizing CPUC to review seaport charges will ensure that the charges are reasonable.
