Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chair Jose Ayuyu talks to reporters aboard the MS Zuiderdam on Monday.
“PARTNERING with the military to develop a secondary economy in the CNMI is a win-win,” Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chair Jose Ayuyu told reporters Monday.
Military involvement in the CNMI could boost the local economy, he added.
He said he joined Gov. Arnold I. Palacios in a meeting with U.S. Department of Defense officials in Washington, D.C. last month to discuss a partnership that would be beneficial to both the CNMI and the military.
Ayuyu said some of the ideas that were brought up included the creation of a “marine highway” that will establish a ferry service in the Marianas, and the “deepening and widening of the ports.”
“We’re trying to convince the federal government as well as DOD that [these are also] critical for their operation,” he said.
“At the same time, it would benefit the local economy because our people would be able to take advantage of the ferry [service],” Ayuyu added.
He said this would also open the possibility of shipping agricultural goods between all the islands in the Marianas.
“When exporting agriculture products from Rota to Guam or to Saipan, a ferry would definitely lower the cost,” he said.
Noting the involvement of the U.S. military in the economies of Guam and Hawaii, Ayuyu said, “Even when [their] tourism is down, [their] economy can continue to function and provide employment to their people. Out here, when tourism is down, we’re dead in the water. We have no backup. It makes a lot of sense for us to connect with the military,” he added.
“Hopefully, in the next couple of years, things are going to start happening and we’ll have a bright future,” he said.
As for improving the CNMI’s ports, “We wanted to impress [upon] the DOD leaders that we want to work with them and … see what they can do to help us develop and expand our ports here. [This includes a] backup port for Guam operations. This is not only for military use, but it would also encourage more cruise ships and shipping companies to come to the CNMI. The military has been very receptive to the idea and is working with us. This will take some time, but we will continue to talk to the federal leaders about this,” Ayuyu said.
The captains of two cruise ships that recently visited Saipan noted the challenge of navigating the narrow channel.
“The military is very receptive to the idea of investing on the ports here,” Ayuyu reiterated. “I’m very upbeat as the military continues to [increase its] presence in this area. The nice thing about the military is that they [are] true to their commitment in this area. … That will be the ideal situation for us and we will still promote our islands as tourist destinations — a balanced economy is very important for us,” Ayuyu added.
