Marianas Variety
Thursday, May 15, 2008
By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff
WHILE the administration says the impending federalization of the islands' immigration system next year will worsen the CNMI's economic crisis, a state senator of Hawaii believes it will allow the commonwealth to "market" itself as another part of the United States where investments are safe.
State Sen. J. Kalani English, chairman of the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, said the CNMI federalization will help stabilize the economic situation on the islands.
"I do believe in the stability that the federalization brings from an outside standpoint," said English who holds a master's degree on Pacific island studies from the University of Hawaii.
"That will lead to the dissolution of the frontiersÉand with greater federal presence here, I think investors will look at the Northern Marianas again and say, 'Wow, it's a different ballgame. It's a different set of rules.' The local guest worker program will be phased out but we will have the federal guest worker program," added the state senator who also studied at the Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
English believes that the federal takeover will give the islands an opportunity to improve its image among foreign investors.
"From a nonpolitical level, it's sort of giving everybody a second chance. It's giving the U.S. a second chance to do better in the CNMI, to stand by the values that the U.S. stands for. And it gives the CNMI a second chance to re-establish itself as another part of the U.S.," he told Variety in an interview.
"It will be up to the CNMI to go out and attract new businesses," said English. "I think (federalization) will result in stronger investor confidence. Maybe, it's a time of new beginnings and a time of great hope for the CNMI. That's from a nonpolitical standpoint."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will administer the CNMI's immigration system beginning in June 2009.
During this transition period, all documented guest workers on the islands will be considered transitional workers who will be required to register with the department.
© 2007 Marianas Variety
Original article URL: http://www.mvariety.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=11419