THE commanders of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific expressed their support for the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s request for additional federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
CPA Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds asked USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg last month for additional $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. She said by the end of fiscal year 2023, CPA will exhaust all the federal funds that it has received. Unfortunately, she added, unlike most jurisdictions in the U.S., the CNMI’s tourism industry has not recovered.
In his letter to King-Hinds, Pacific Air Force or PACAF Commander General Kenneth S. Wilsbach said he is also very interested in preserving the viability of air and sea ports across the CNMI, “and I’m deeply concerned about the economic trends outlined in your letter to Secretary Buttigieg.”
As PACAF commander, Wilsbach told King-Hinds that he has consistently advocated for increased investment in CNMI ports, an is “excited about the many ongoing projects across this vital region.”
Currently, he said, PACAF has $444 million of ongoing investment at Tinian International Airport. Additionally, PACAF is continuing to partner with CPA on potential near-term investments at Tinian North Field, Saipan and Rota international airports.
While these investments might not directly address some of the concerns in King-Hinds’ letter, Wilsbach believes that PACAF’s investments will “rebuild some of the infrastructure damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu, increase overall operational capacity, generate jobs and revenue for the local communities, and ultimately posture the CNMI for future increases in tourism.”
He added, “PACAF will continue to work with…CPA to shape investments across [the] CNMI, and I will continue to advocate to preserve the operational viability of your ports through [United States Indo-Pacific Command] and Air Force-channels. Please let me know where you think my direct advocacy can be of help.”
In his letter to Secretary Buttigieg, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Commander Capt. N.R. Simmons, on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam, expressed his support for CPA’s request for supplemental funding.
He said the maritime transportation system facilities within CPA remain the only cost-effective means of importing critical food, medical supplies, equipment, and other essential goods to the islands.
“Continuous unimpeded port operations to facilitate the flow of commerce is critical not only to the island communities the ports serve, but is equally important to sustaining the markedly increased Department of Defense footprint within the greater Marianas chain,” Simmons said.
Given the stark fiscal projections affecting the airports within CPA, he said “it is merely a matter of time before any reprogramming of the CNMI government’s operational funds begin to impact the seaports.”
“As the Captain of the Port for both CNMI and Guam, I have grave concerns regarding potential port funding reductions and the subsequent cascading effects this could have within our area of responsibility,” Simmons said.
“Recognizing [the] CNMI’s strategic importance, not only to national security interests, but also to the efficiency of the national supply chain and its U.S. carriers operating in the Pacific, I am reiterating my full support of CPA’s effort and look forward to your agency’s positive response,” Simmons told Buttigieg.
