Commonwealth Ports Authority Vice Chairman Antonio Cabrera speaks during a board meeting last week.
THE Commonwealth Ports Authority, during a town hall meeting on Tuesday, assured local businesses on Rota that there will be no more exclusivity in the use of Rota West Harbor for stevedoring services.
Presided by CPA Vice Chairman Antonio Cabrera, the meeting was held in the conference room of the Department of Commerce Resident Director’s Office.
Joining Cabrera were CPA Executive Director Leo Tudela, Lease Compliance Officer Joy Ann Tenorio and Assistant Attorney General Greg Cenac. Also present were Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, Rep. Julie Marie Ogo, and members of the Rota Chamber of Commerce.
CPA hosted the meeting a week after the board terminated its lease agreement with Rota Terminal & Transfer Co. Inc. for lack of a business license. Tudela then sent a notice to vacate to RT&T, which asked for ample time to remove its equipment, especially the inoperable crane at the seaport.
In a telephone interview after the meeting, Cabrera said they informed the business community on Rota of what CPA was doing to address the lack of stevedoring services at Rota West Harbor.
He said CPA “does not want the people of Rota to be left in the dark.” CPA had to assure them that “it is not the end of the world” for Rota businesses, he added.
Cabrera said CPA also shared its plan, which includes opening up the seaport to interested companies that can provide temporary stevedoring services. He said interested companies can download an application form from www.cnmiports.com and have 15 days to submit their applications for a temporary stevedoring service contract.
Overall, Cabrera said, those who attended the meeting were happy to hear that CPA was “going in this direction.”
He said CPA will continue to allow small boats “to come in and load light cargoes.”
He reiterated that there will be no more exclusivity in stevedoring services at Rota West Harbor.
In a separate interview, Rota Merchandising Corp. owner Pedro Q. Dela Cruz said the meeting was helpful and the business community responded “positively.”
The meeting, he added, also attracted people from Rota and Saipan who are interested in providing stevedoring services on Rota.
He said CPA’s assurance that there will be no more exclusivity in stevedoring services on Rota was “positive” because it will encourage more businesses to engage in ports operation.
He said “competition improves businesses and drives down prices.”
