Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and other CNMI officials met with U.S. military officers and other federal partners on Thursday at Crowne Plaza Resort. The event was part of a quarterly meeting between the CNMI and the Indo-Pacific Command. Among the U.S. military officials who participated in the meeting on Thursday were Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman of Joint Region Marianas, INDOPACOM; Maj. Gen. Mark A. Hashimoto, INDOPACOM; Maj. Gen. Reginald G. A. Neal, U.S. Army Pacific; and Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Faurot, Guam Air National Guard.
From left, Maj. Gen. Reginald Neil, Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto and Brig. Gen. Christopher Faurot pose for a photo at Crowne Plaza Resort where CNMI and military officials gathered for a stakeholders meeting Thursday.
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios and other CNMI officials met with U.S. military officers at the Crowne Plaza Resort on Feb. 1, Thursday, to discuss upcoming military projects in the Marianas as well as opportunities for military tourism, among other issues.
The other CNMI officials who attended the meeting included Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Saipan Mayor RB Camacho, Rota Mayor Aubry Manglona, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Sen. Paul Manglona and House Speaker Edmund Villagomez.
The governor said he wanted “to get everybody involved in the discussion” regarding military projects in the region.
He said he looks forward to more military activities in the Marianas, adding that he wants the CNMI to “maximize” the benefits it can receive from military projects, including jobs associated with the buildup on Tinian.
He said the CNMI can also benefit from military visitors from naval ships at port and U.S. Air Force planes taking part in training exercises.
Closed-door meeting
U.S. Marine Corp Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command spoke to members of the press after the closed-door meeting.
He said the meeting highlighted the “mutual respect” between the CNMI and the military. The goal was to ensure that the CNMI and the military are “aligned to the details of all the activities that are coming up.”
These activities include the ongoing construction of the Tinian divert airfield and construction at North Field.
Hashimoto said equipment has been delivered to begin the North Field project.
“I think within the next few months they’re going to get started on that and so basically it’s progress and momentum. We’re moving into the execution phase of those projects,” Hashimoto added.
He said the military and CNMI leaders also discussed the outlook for local companies seeking business opportunities related to the buildup activities on Tinian.
As for the needed workforce, Palacios said the CNMI will need to rely on Northern Marianas College, the Northern Marianas Trades Institute, the CNMI Department of Labor, and other local programs and organizations that can help locals take advantage of job opportunities.
He said it is “unfortunate that we haven’t really done our efforts in the past two years to get prepared for this.”
Workforce development, he added, “is an ongoing effort that we need to constantly stay on top of to make sure that our community … benefits.”
Rear Adm. Greg Huffman of Joint Region Marianas said in June this year, Exercise Valiant Shield “will bring a substantial number of service members and aircraft to the islands.”
He said while most of the activities will be related to operations, the participating airmen and airwomen are “not working 24/7” and can go on leave.
He said he is also pursuing to bring more Navy ships to visit Saipan for rest and relaxation.
Palacios said a Navy vessel may visit the CNMI sometime this month.
As for military tourism, he said more needs to be done if the CNMI wants to tap the military market.
“One of the issues that we need to continue to work on is the air connectivity for military tourism from, for example, Guam to the CNMI. It’s very difficult … at this point to expect a military family of four to come from Guam to Saipan at $500 to $600 per person round trip. Those are the things that we need to continue to work on — the cost and the air connectivity.”
He said the CNMI must meet with United Airlines to discuss airfare issues. There is also a need to bring in airline investors to the CNMI, he added.
