LIVE FROM SAIPAN
Saipan—Here in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the economy and the visitor force are issues that have been discussed repeatedly, if not exhaustively, since at least the Trust Territory era. They have been the subject of countless reports, studies, plans, conferences, symposiums, forums, discussions, debates, editorials, op-eds, letters to the editor and not-so-online comments and social media resulting. The arguments are seemingly never ending.
Why? After more than three decades of reporting and writing about the CNMI, I’ve realized that, to borrow a term from the late Nancy Weil’s words, these truly are the island’s goodbyes. People come and go, including those in the print media, which is supposed to be a key repository of the CNMI’s history. The same goes for the officials of the government agencies that deal with economic, labor and other related issues. After every general election, we usually have new leaders, with their own experts and advisers, proposing old solutions that were already found wanting in addressing concerns they seem to believe are new.
Consider, for example, the shortage of local workers, particularly in certain sectors. Then and now, the indigenous population is very small. When Japan still administered the islands, it “solved” this problem by bringing in thousands of workers, mostly from Japan.
Foreign workers also drove the CNMI’s economic boom in the 1980s and 1990s. Then and now, the CNMI and U.S. governments provided work for training and education programs for locals while imposing restrictions on hiring of foreign workers, restrictions that have only tightened in recent years.
On Dec. 31, 2023, the current CNMI guest-worker or CW program will end unless extended by the federal government. Without that program, the CNMI can only hire foreign workers through other U.S. visa programs that critics say are useless or hopelessly broken.
Recently, a concerned citizen on the Marianas asked, “After all the federal investment and millions in investment (creating a local workforce), we have a legacy; why are we still here? Why are we still asking for exemptions or extensions instead of seeing real progress in the sustainable local workforce?” The answer should be painfully obvious: The CNMI’s local population remains small and those of working age, like their fellow Americans elsewhere—have many career or even lifestyle options. The CNMI is not their “country.” The U.S. is.
They can move to another territory or state where they believe they can do better. This is the reason many towns on the mainland have “disappeared.” They, too, have consistently lost population due to a declining economy, triggering a move to “greener pastures.”
And it’s not as if the CNMI is the only jurisdiction that needs foreign workers. The U.S. itself, with over 300 million people, continues to hire foreign workers, particularly for jobs in agriculture, hospitality and food services, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, health care, home health and personal care, manufacturing, STEM and education. These are good-paying jobs in high demand.
Moreover, the federal government provides many training programs for U.S. citizens and residents who are willing to take these jobs. Why are there not enough takers? Again, because many have plenty of options, including welfare dependence, and they are not in a rush to choose.
Other prosperous nations with large populations, such as Canada, Japan, Britain, France and other Western European countries, have also been hiring foreign workers for the same kinds of jobs. In the Pacific, Guam and other island jurisdictions, including American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau, rely on some foreign workers.
After over half a century of discussion on this issue, the concerned citizens of the CNMI should now ask: how many more of them want to be agricultural, construction, hotel or healthcare workers, even though they can go to college, learn as many degrees as they want and then head to a large U.S. city to pursue whatever dreams they have—ones that don’t involve work that they don’t find appealing?
Some concerned citizens say CNMI leaders should “step up with a long-term plan.”
What other plan? How many are aware — the numerous plans that were drawn up — including those by the U.S. — since the 1960s?
According to a concerned citizen, “We need incentives for residents and locals on-island and abroad to stay or return home— incentives that, in turn, help our islands grow. We need a job market and the economic infrastructure that supports them and their professional growth to grow our islands’ economy.”
“How many understand how an economy works in remote, faraway islands with small populations and few natural resources?”
“We need accountable, realistic vision and local leadership that prioritizes results.”
“How many know that elected officials are promising those very same things while also trying to cut spending on programs for veterans and social services?”
Other prosperous nations with large populations and numerous programs have continued to create policies that balance local needs with foreign labor.
Move forward with the building of the new GMH at Ypao Point. — David Camacho