Why does the Chamber oppose Tina Sablan's Resident Foreign National Act?

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has come out against House Bill 16-86, the Resident Foreign National Act of 2008, introduced by Representatives Edward Salas, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider and Tina Sablan. Sablan described what the Act would do in Thursday's Saipan Tribune:

"If HB 16-86 is signed into law, qualified foreign nationals would be able to apply for an entry permit that would allow them the ability to be employed at will in the Commonwealth for the duration of their permits. This means that they would be responsible for negotiating the terms of their own employment contracts, including medical coverage, and for paying their own permit fees. They would also be able to operate businesses, and to accept, leave, and transfer jobs without having to obtain the approval of the Department of Labor. Foreign nationals who can show that they have maintained legal status in the Commonwealth for at least five consecutive years prior to the date of application; have a clean criminal record; have never been public charges of the Commonwealth; have sufficient potential for employment; and are not otherwise deportable, would be eligible to apply for resident foreign national entry permits."

Tina Sablan's full column in the Tribune can be found here. In her column, she effectively refutes the arguments that the Act would be moot because of federalization, that it would displace locals and other U.S. citizens, or that it would burden employers. In fact, she makes a strong case for why the bill would benefit the local economy.

Now, we can see why some people might have sensible reasons for supporting this and some would have sensible reasons for opposing it. But why would the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to be looking out for the interests of local businesses and the economy, oppose this bill? Don't they have an interest in stabilizing the work force by allowing a pool of qualified workers to stay here as long as possible? Could it be that Chamber leaders don't like the idea that these workers would have the right to transfer to different jobs, which would create a little more balance in the highly unequal power relationship that employers have traditionally enjoyed with their employees in the CNMI? Don't they realize that with the passage of the federalization bill, the special, artificial power advantages that CNMI employers have benefited from are on their way out anyway? Could it be that they oppose this bill because they haven't yet grasped the implications of the federalization bill? Just asking....

Caught in the Boycott

Saipan Chamber of Commerce was terribly disappointed the other night when its first election forum was deliberately boycotted by some candidates running for House seats. SCC president expressed his disappointment and wondered why they didn't show up. Apparently he was aware of the buzz around the island that the precinct 3 candidates would boycott the forum because of what he wrote on the paper about the SCC's disappointment with the Legislature's overriding of the Gov. veto on CUC bill.

SCC president said it was the position of the SCC and the current members of the Legislature especially those that are seeking re-election did not consult or seek advice from the Chamber.

"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen," he said.

Troubleshooter and the Troublemaker

This morning was the Saipan Chamber of Commerce's meeting highlighted its second Career Exploration Day and a presentation from Budget man Tony Muna.

SCC president JuanPan in his verbal effervescence introduced guests. One thing that struck us on our seats was when he introduced a government prominent staff as the "Troubleshooter but also the troublemaker" Ray Mafnas. Laughter in the hall.

Harry Bla-Block

While I was driving on the road this afternoon, I heard a segment from prominent radio commentator Harry Blalock about his corrections on what he had ranted before about MCV not having a generator whatsoever. Then, he mentioned something about his blog now restricted for his friends only and those who request for access.

He said something about a dive incident that he had conflict with a diving company, and he also mentioned about not implicating the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

I guess that's what happens when you win the best blog in the CNMI.

Shall we have another poll excluding Harry's? ;-)

The Reveler

Chamber and the President on Fire

This is not a regular scene from the lobby of the Guma Hustisia House of Justice in Susupe. This was the scene today during the Congressional Hearing with Reps. Christian Dior, Bored-hallow, and Fatun-gaga (who could remember the names anyway). Anyway, going back to the Chamber, I guess, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce finally came around to let Alex Sablan to speak on its president's behalf.

Questions:

1. Did they let Alex Sablan speak up because he is more eloquent and articulate?
2. Did they let Alex Sablan speak up because his business would not be directly affected by such boycott threat?
3. Did they let Alex Sablan speak up because he is more telegenic?

You tell me.

Btw, Juanpan (Chamber president) was inside the court room for the hearing. He was present.

Chamber and the Prisoners of Business Ban

News today about Saipan Chamber of Commerce's public voting on its stand regarding federalization of the CNMI, majority voted against it but largely divided on the grandfathering issue, says the papers.

Questions of the community are:

1. Was the voting a vindication on the boycott or business ban on its president's business empire on Saipan?
2. Would the result of this voting affect the federal decision on the take over?
3. Why didn't the Chamber provide the public the names of the businesses that are against or supportive of the issues today?
4. Do consumers have the right to know which are which?

You tell me.

The Reveler

The Buzz: Nikko-lodeon

Well, it's not new though, but the news around town is that:

1. Hotel Nikko is left suspended up in the midair. Bidders like Asiana or Kumho has backed out, they say, realizing that if Japan Airlines couldn't fill it up, how can they? So, they say, it's closing.

2. The revolving restaurant or simply called the 360(degree) is not at all going to happen. The AJ's Restaurant staff are now left out in the open.

3. Business owners and officials with business groups are cooking up something to express their protest against federal takeover. Buzz is, that they are meeting up silently how to counter federalization of the island.

So what've you heard around lately?

The Reveler

'Chamber of the Phoenix'

Ok. A Filipino group and the Philippine Consulate spoke about the mass boycott for Saipan Chamber president Juanpan Guerrero's businesses in the CNMI. One said, the ConGen, it's a blackmail, the other, United Filipino Organization, said it is clueless about the text message's origin.

So they spoke. Sources said, the latter, when he went to the bakeshop that Guerrero owns, the UFO leader received free goodies, like a "gift of appreciation from the bakeshop for what he told the media. "I felt they were so glad with what I said in the paper," the leader shared with us.

As for the blackmail, maybe the ConGen is waiting for "black mail" that has numbers hidden in it. Just a thought. As for the goodies, can we consider that a "bribe?" Just a thought again. ;-)

The Reveler

The Chamber of Secrets....

Potential IRs burden to the NMI?

A Canadian friend told me before with regard to the issue that the non-resident workers remit at least $1 million a year to their families back home, that if the local government would allow the families of these nonresident workers come to the CNMI, these remittances would be mitigated and money would revolve within the economy of the Commonwealth. Now, the Chamber is afraid that federalizing the CNMI and allowing these nonresidents petition their family members as potential immediate relatives (IRs) would hurt the CNMI. Read on news from the paper:

The leadership of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce expressed fear that, if granted nonimmigrant visas, thousands of long-term nonresident workers and their families could be “an immense burden” to the CNMI.

In testimony presented Thursday to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Chamber president Juan T. Guerrero reiterated the group's opposition to the “grandfather clause” in S. 1634, allowing workers who have lived in the Commonwealth for more than five years the right to “lawful nonimmigrant” status.

“Such action allows these individuals the right to remain in the Commonwealth (or, for that matter, relocate to the mainland United States) for purposes of living and working. This action would allow the right to immigrate family members to the Commonwealth under “immediate relative” status. .We have estimated that approximately 8,000 current workers in the Commonwealth would qualify for such status. There are two possible outcome scenarios under this grandfather clause, and neither is good,” said Guerrero.

He said allowing almost 8,000 individuals “to remain-and to immigrate immediate relatives to join them, for the long-term-are profoundly negative for the Commonwealth.”

“These tens of thousands of lawful nonimmigrants would be given the same preference for local jobs that this Senate has repeatedly claimed to be attempting to protect for United States citizens. These lawful nonimmigrants and their families would prove an immense burden on the local infrastructure in a way, and to a degree, that was never contemplated by-nor allowed-under the Commonwealth's existing guest worker program,” he said.

The other concern is the likelihood of these workers to leave the CNMI right away to travel and work in the U.S. mainland.

What are they so afraid of? These people would stay at least for a while. Some would as long as good paying jobs are available for them. These nonresidents (some that I had conversed with) know for sure that it's a huge risk to be relocated.

The Reveler

I Say Don't Shoot! What the...

Oh oh. The Chamber has spoken. This will be up in the paper tomorrow, i believe. Read on! I'm highlighting some words you might like...

Saipan Chamber of Commerce has taken Organization-wide Position on Proposed Federalization of Immigration

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce objects to federalization of CNMI immigration on principle; the CNMI government and business community did not have the opportunity to negotiate issues with the federal government. The legislation, as written, confirms that the federal government did not listen to the CNMI perspective.

There were a number of points that were not addressed: The CNMI has no guarantee of future access to a sufficient workforce; tourism is now the primary CNMI industry, yet there is no guarantee of future access to tourists from China and Russia; the entire guest worker program would completely phase out; and the legislation provides no economic relief for the impact of the contemplated changes.

Mr. Juan T. Guerrero is presenting the Chamber¹s position to the United States Congress in his capacity as President of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. He is not in Washington, D.C. presenting his personal opinion.

The Chamber asks that retaliation not be taken against any individual businesses. Hurting one Saipan business hurts all Saipan businesses and residents. In a small economy, businesses rely on each other in daily commerce. There exists an economic domino effect, and if businesses suffer extensively, there will be a loss of jobs in the community.

So what do you think?

The Reveler

SMS against Juan Pan...

Yesterday morning most of the non-resident workers (NRWs) in the CNMI received island wide SMS or text messages encouraging the NRWs not to patronize the businesses owned by Saipan Chamber of Commerce president John "Juan Pan" Guerrero, namely Herman's Bakery, Western Union, and Mita Travel et al for being against CNMI's federal takeover.

This is history repeating itself as they say when Rep. Ray Yumul introduced a bill that was regarded "anti-NRWs" before, that led to the closure of one Jollibee Restaurant branch that his family owned in Chalan Kanoa.

I went to an establishment and these NRWs were talking about the text message and murmured that they would try to follow the advice.

I sat today with former ranking officials and talked about issues on the island. This ranking official spoke about the stand of the Chamber of Commerce. Apparently, SCC's stand as the paper reported does not want "grandfathering" of the NRWs on the island.

The former official said one should request from the Chamber minutes of their meeting that the stand is actually the group's position and not just Juan Pan's. Makes sense to me.

He said Juan Pan's majority of workers for his successful businesses are NRWs that have been working for him at least five years and up. The former ranking official said this man should be investigated.

What do you think?

The Reveler