ELIZABETH Salas-Balajadia, chairwoman of the CNMI Board of Professional Licensing, has informed House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider that a resolution was recently introduced by the National Council of Architects Registration Board to remove the commonwealth from being a member of the organization.
The council will act on the resolution in its annual meeting next month according to the former public works secretary.
In a recent letter, Balajadia told Hofschneider that because of the over-all budget cuts since 1998, the board is “constantly waging for funds” to cover annual membership fee with the national organizations.
She said that since the last budget was passed in 1999, the funds provided to pay for the annual fee was only $3,464, but the annual fees due every year is $9,850.
“Non-payment of these fees will automatically terminate our membership with these organizations. It is a lengthy process to be accepted back into membership as it has to be considered at an annual meeting and voted on by 54 board members,” Balajadia told the speaker.
If the CNMI’s membership with these national organizations is terminated, Balajadia said local licensed professionals will not be recognized “as meeting the U.S. standards in education, examination and experience.”
She said CNMI professional applicants will not also be able to obtain examinations from the organizations.
