GCEA fiscal reform panel reviews govt. restructuring, austerity steps, and strategies to spur economic activity
The Fiscal Reform Committee of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers is advancing a slate of initiatives aimed at improving government efficiency, reducing costs, and identifying new economic opportunities.
The committee, formed earlier this month as a condition of a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, is tasked with compiling a comprehensive list of fiscal reforms and pinpointing barriers to economic growth.
“We’re looking at everything from consolidation of government services and departments to cost-cutting measures,” Joseph Guerrero, GCEA co-chair, said.
“Austerity is already part of the agenda, but we’re also exploring things we can do independently to stimulate economic activity,” he added.
Guerrero said the committee includes a “good cross section of government and private sector involvement” and is working toward a report due to the Office of Insular Affairs by Nov. 30.
“What’s neat is that a lot of the ideas being discussed are the same concepts and initiatives the council has been working on,” Guerrero added. “Once the report is submitted, the governor plans to hand over many of those initiatives to the council for further action, with input from the private sector and the community.”
GCEA Executive Director Clement “CJ” Bermudes Jr. said the process reflects the value of a whole-of-government approach.
“A lot of the ideas under review actually came out of the original GCEA framework from a few years ago,” Bermudes said. “We’re not reinventing the wheel. These plans are feasible—we just need to adopt them… and see how they can assist in areas like fiscal reform.”
He added that the collaboration between the committee and the council has already proven fruitful and will help advance long-term goals once the report is finalized.
Alex Sablan, chair of the GCEA Committee on Tourism, Infrastructure and Sports, joined Guerrero and Bermudes at a press conference Friday. Sablan discussed the council’s tourism recovery task force and emphasized the importance of aligning fiscal reforms with efforts to revitalize the visitor industry.
The CNMI Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers includes a mix of public officials and private sector leaders appointed to guide economic policy and resilience efforts.
The council was re-established by Gov. David M. Apatang in September 2025 under Directive No. 2025-005 to help navigate economic challenges, including declining tourism and rising unemployment.
