Rep. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan and chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said in an interview on Monday that the meeting will be held in the House chamber at 8 a.m.
He said lawmakers want to hear policy proposals from the business community
“If our existing laws are bad let’s change them,” Basa said adding that his committee, as well as the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism, will open its doors to the best ideas that can help the CNMI’s ailing economy.
Aside from the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, about 15 companies involved in banking, shipping and tourism will send representatives to the meeting.
The government’s “money-making” agencies like the Commonwealth Development Authority and the Commonwealth Ports Authority will also be part of the effort which Basa hopes will result in a bigger forum.
“We are taking efforts to really identify and understand the problem before we can come up with solutions now that our economy is really bad,” he said, adding that he is glad they finally came up with an idea that coincides with what the administration disclosed during the “summit” with lawmakers on Friday at the Saipan World Resort.
The groups involved in the meeting today, Basa said, will not just collect information and “put it on the shelves.”
Once they get the information, he added, the next step will be to make a report and create an action plan.
“Because businesspersons are intelligent people and they are the ones who feel the impact of this economic recession we want to hear from them,” Basa said.
