THE Marianas Visitors Authority is seeking exemption from a bill that seeks to change the composition of CNMI government boards.
MVA board members said the CNMI government should give the agency “consideration” due to the nature of its mandate which requires close partnership with the private sector.
Board Chairman David Sablan said the MVA board “is unique” compared to other government boards.
“We need input from the private sector. We can’t possibly operate without the help of the private sector. Otherwise it would be a lot costlier for us. I don’t know if (lawmakers) realized that fact,” Sablan told his colleagues in a recent meeting.
The measure aims to reduce the number of board members to only five who would be appointed by the governor.
MVA has nine members including four elected by the private sector.
MVA Deputy Managing Director Vicky I. Benavente said the agency will urge lawmakers to consider the “special composition of our board.”
“We’ll request that we be given consideration because we get maximum support from the private sector. Member businesses provide hotel discounts and several other privileges,” she said.
“If we lessen their participation, I don’t think we’d be receiving the same assistance. It would be detrimental to the CNMI government,” she said.
MVA acts as the marketing arm of the CNMI to promote the local tourism industry which has been the major source of government revenue.
