Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, told the Variety they also asked Sablan during their closed-door meeting on Thursday to focus on getting more capital improvement projects to boost the tourism-based economy of the islands.
Sablan will be sworn in as the CNMI’s first delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6 – Wednesday, local time — along with other elected American lawmakers.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and CNMI first lady Josie Fitial will attend the historic oath-taking ceremony.
Palacios, who opted to stay on island due to austerity considerations, said the CNMI government must keep an open line of communications with Sablan to push issues that would benefit the commonwealth and its people.
As a delegate, Sablan can introduce bills and participate in committee deliberations but he cannot vote on the floor.
“We must open our line of communication with our elected delegate. We have to work together with him on economic and other issues,” said Palacios. “He’s [Sablan] at the forefront. The economy is a top issue. We have to look at it from a wide spectrum.”
Then-CNMI Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio asked the U.S. Congress to consider granting the commonwealth a bailout package, but the request was turned down.
“Kilili also indicated that he would immediately start working on economic stimulus package for the CNMI,” said Palacios.
The CNMI will not directly benefit from the $750 billion economic stimulus package that outgoing President Bush approved.
“That’s why Congress and President-elect Obama need to see how and what we need to do from our end and from their end to ensure that we participate [in their economic packages]. There are things that the local government has to do to maximize the potential of an economic stimulus package,” said the speaker.
He said CIP funding is very crucial to stimulate economic activities in the commonwealth.
Millions in CIP funds have not been used by the CNMI government for years due to the matching fund requirement.
“It is my understanding that you either use it [CIP fund] or lose it,” said Palacios.
There have been no new major construction projects to spruce up the landscape of Saipan and other nearby islands to enhance its image as a tourism destination in the Pacific.
