Businesswoman Eleanor B. Alinas, the governor’s nominee to the Zoning Board, is sworn in during her appearance before the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
ELEANOR B. Alinas, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ nominee to the Commonwealth Zoning Board, identified some of the challenges that local businesses have to deal with when applying for permits.
The president of Kalayaan Inc., a catering company, Alinas appeared before the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee for her confirmation hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Senate chamber.
Also present were the committee chair, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, Reps. Blas Jonathan Attao, Diego Vincent F. Camacho and Vicente C. Camacho.
House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, Customs and Biosecurity Director Jose C. Mafnas, Office of the Governor protocol officer Ignacia Evangelista and former Rep. Clyde Norita testified in support of Alinas’ nomination.
Alinas, who has been doing business in the CNMI since the late 1990s, thanked the committee for giving her the opportunity to appear at a public hearing on her nomination. She said she was humbled by the nomination, adding that it is an honor to serve the Commonwealth.
She said her small business started from nothing but she was able to make it grow. The Commonwealth, she added, “has been very kind to me.”
She said it’s important to strengthen small businesses as they serve as “the backbone of our economy.”
If the CNMI government can support local businesses through agencies like the Zoning Board, for example, then “we can continue to encourage entrepreneurship in our community that brings in jobs, that brings in taxes, and hopefully be a big part in contributing to the revitalization of our economy.”
Challenges
Sen. Magofna asked Alinas what challenges local businesses experience when dealing with government agencies.
Alinas said Zoning and other agencies such as the Department of Public Works seem to have overlapping duties.
When applying for certain permits, for example, Alinas said, “it’s kind of unclear where the line stops and where the agencies’ responsibilities begin.”
From a business standpoint, she said it is a bit confusing because businesses have to submit certain plans and details to Zoning, and then do the same with DPW.
“So we are kind of like, ‘Who really approves what?’ We’re not sure,” she said.
Another challenge for local businesses is the length of time in processing applications.
She said Zoning is one of the government agencies where applicants have to wait the longest.
She said it takes about a month to a month and a half to get a zoning permit for the construction of a two-bedroom apartment, for example.
Alinas said any delay in a project means that the business will lose money.
“So this is a concern for us,” she added. She said if her nomination is confirmed by the delegation, “I would like to really start with a review of the zoning law. I had the chance to read it, and there are some provisions there that I think are not applicable to us here. There are things in the zoning law that do not fit what we do here,” Alinas said.
She said a thorough review of the zoning law is the Legislature’s task, “but that would be something I’ll support.”
