Federalization, he added, is already “hurting” everybody in the CNMI and will result in the shutdown of more establishments.
Under the federalization law, tourists from Russia and China will be required to apply for U.S. visas before they can visit the CNMI.
Grey noted a recent Marianas Visitors Authority report stating that tourist arrivals last June decreased by 30 percent.
This, he said, indicates a decline in Russian arrivals.
Fewer tourists will mean more shops closing down, resulting in the loss of more jobs, Grey added.
“They are just destroying us,” he said, referring to the federal government. “They’re going to push [federalization] no matter how it will hurt us.”
Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, which targets Chinese tourists, will be severely affected by federalization, he added.
Without Dynasty, he said, the ferry that transports hotel guests will eventually stop operations, and economic activity on Tinian will gradually disappear.
“The economic effect is significant and is not a small matter,” Grey said.
He noted that the federal government has not coordinated with his office.
“It seems we are not part of the regulation,” he said.
The last time he talked with a federal official regarding immigration matters was a year ago when the CNMI Immigration Division was asked about its furniture and equipment.
