New properties from Saipan Real Estate 1-2-2012

.ANAKS condo! Saipan's only gated community
REDUCED


135k , 95k, and 85k

135k is a higher view unit furnished (with financing)

The ANAKS is one kilometer from the Garapan tourist district, beside the bike/walking trail, is the only place on Saipan with potable drinking water from the faucet, has wonderful pool including baby pool(2nd pic down), tennis courts, gated 24 hr security, and this 2 bedroom unit has glorious ocean views of Monagaha Island and the harbor.

Beach property 11,000 sq meters 225k

7k meters in Guala Rai reduced to 110k This is a great deal with ocean views.

Apartment complex rents 12k per month for 800k

20k square foot concrete factory building with loading docks, 2 entrances, fenced, 2 apts, offices, security gate, a steal at 250k

6k square meters...great opportunity at 275k

Best deck in Saipan with golden view near Garapan 400k

Beach home near Lau lau 600k

3 units, two 3 bedrooms plus guest house rental and pool 350k

New building lot in San Antonio. 1/4 acre adjacent to SA elementary school parking ot 150 meters from beach and 150 meters from Beach Rd. Asking 15k

New offering of 5k square meters of view property where you can see the sunrise and the sunset

Super executive homes...Saipan's finest

Mt. Topachau 5 bedroom 375k

2 story best view deck in Saipan 450k

Outstanding lot with home, pool, 7000 sq meters, fruit trees and ocean views and breezes. CALL

Best view in Saipan 475k

Wireless Ridge 450k

Saipan Real Estate economic report 2010

State of the Commonwealth

Saipan Real Estate economic report for spring 2010


Beginning with short takes on the NMI economy, restaurants and bars are suffering from high utilities, poor water, and rising minimum wages. Russian, Chinese, and Korean investors are funding small construction, chiefly personal homes, generally cash customers due to difficult financing. .A bill to legalize marijuana has been offered by a lawmaker that could have economic merit if properly administered, unlikely for a Legislature unable to manage a lemonade stand without federal funding. Being displayed in the cases of Amsterdam would provide more advertisement, economic development, and enhancement of tourism than MVA has ever accomplished though and could add an export product currently lacking in the economy! Casino talk for the outer islands has waned even though the island of Rota pays a casino commission. Tinian’s casino looks like a ghost town with a curtain closing half the gaming floor to reduce utilities. The only economic opportunity for young people on either of those islands is welfare or a ticket east. The House speaker has proposed Saipan casinos again even though two straight referendums were soundly defeated. The long term trajectory of U.S. intervention could unite Guam and the CNMI into the Marianas province. A united MP could potentially become the 51st state and have two voting senators in Congress. The CNMI Legislature will not support this because it would jeopardize the gravy train they themselves are riding. The NMI landed the Marianas Marine Monument, but the visitor’s Center for that wonder of the world may land in Guam. NW’s split with Continental has opened European and Asian ports offered by Delta, United, and all their partners, opening Saipan to vast new markets. Japan’s minority party has endorsed a Marine move to Tinian instead of Guam, but CNMI involvement in the Marine relocation remains unclear. Increased federal funding and personnel has been an economic boast to the beleaguered NMI.

In November, 2009, CNMI labor and immigration was federalized by the United States, and immediately addressed the reputation of labour abuses and human exploitation in the CNMI. Federal officials have confirmed that workers are no longer tied to their jobs, and federalization proponents can thank the U.S. Congress for ensuring that the democratic ideals of the US apply to the CNMI. Only months into U.S. intervention and Saipan has virtually no labour abuse, and not much is expected.

Saipan has catastrophic unemployment among aliens and citizens alike, the remnants of an economy driven by the textile industry. The CNMI is the most impoverished American region of the last half century. There may have been over 10k illegal aliens as well, but an umbrella permit was honoured by the U.S., effectively stalling some aspects of federalization for two years.

The CNMI stalled U.S. intervention by blanketing maids, dancers, illegal business operators, their employees, freelancers, and every immigration fraudsters who lined up with an umbrella permit, so they have a legal right to remain in the CNMI until November 2011.

Foreign owned businesses operating here must exit when their two year permit expires. CNMI investor visa holders have until 2014 to meet U.S. investor visa requirements or restructure their business and move.

The status of guest workers is controversial. The regulations governing guest workers are not final, but if they mirror the original version, the unique CW transitional guest workers program used in conjunction with the CNMI transitional investor’s visa program will make right what was long wrong in the CNMI.

Guam needs 20k workers for the U.S. military build-up, and some think NMI workers should be allowed to travel to Guam for work. The CNMI hopes the Guam build-up will employ citizens earning prevailing wages, which will stimulate the region and spill into the commonwealth.

Austerity and reality demand CNMI constitutional changes. The CNMI spends an extraordinary amount for governance and has unnecessary bureaucratic waste. A small government would prove affordable, flexible, and able to adapt to a rapidity changing world. The land alienation law continues to prohibit growth and development, but impoverished residents have little confidence in the Legislature’s ability to enact reform.

CNMI residents face four serious economic problems. First, about 50 percent of NMI residents send earnings abroad as remittances, undoubtedly the highest percentage on the planet. While the Philippines survive by receiving money, the CNMI has an extraordinarily high percentage of people remitting their income abroad. Second, our banks send our depositors money to other shores to stimulate their economies, chiefly Guam and Hawaii, instead of investing where the wealth originated. Third, foreign workers are willing to accept jobs below prevailing wage, making local citizens unable to compete for jobs that they should be performing. This increases our numbers receiving U.S. aid. The recent austerity measure reduced government workers hours by 10 hours a pay period, or 12.5 percent of NMI government employees yearly economic wealth is lost. Lastly, illegal foreign businesses operate here without a U.S. investor visa and send their profits off island as well, strengthening their East Asian homelands but paralyzing the CNMI. These businesses will close before 11-2011.

The post-textile industry CNMI is a welfare territory evidenced by statistics. The CNMI has roughly three households receiving federal aid for every voter, an astonishing admission of fraud.

Real estate sales are slow and leases realize record lows, upscale housing is limited, and there is a glut in substandard structures. Financing commercial or residential property is difficult and the cost of money is pricey. Accurate appraisals are tough to find, and many Saipan properties have expiring leaseholds from the boom time of the early 90’s. CDA loan default rates are nearly 90 percent, and title issues with unresolved probates are routine. A NMI Senate initiative seeks to change the Article XII land alienation law (restricts land ownership to persons of Northern Marianas Descent and all others can’t exceed a 55-year lease term) to allow 99-year leases. If passed, it would create real estate activity because FDIC banks consider a 99-year lease equal to a fee simple for financing purposes. Land value is based on supply and demand, and demand is largely based on the availability and cost of money. When people can easily qualify for a low interest loan, prices skyrocket, but high interest and difficult borrowing requirements create the stagnant mess that now exists. The advantage to the 99 years is that locals could get an extra bite at the apple, but the disadvantage is that it will lose in court the first time a U.S. citizen, NMD or not, challenges the law after 11-4-11.

Perhaps the brightest recent news for the CNMI is visa waivers for Russians and Chinese tourists, the only U.S. soil with that distinction. Russian and Chinese arrivals are on the rise and have incredible potential considering that there are thousands of millionaires within short flight range. The market possibilities for winter residences are enormous. Korean tourism continues to improve, helping to offset a collapse in Japanese arrivals. There is a spark of investor confidence attributed to the stabilizing effects of federalization and the visa waivers.

Politics and economics aside, Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, is an enchantingly tranquil tropical delight of unimaginable beauty; highlighted by turquoise crystal water, fire red sunsets, panoramic views, and unparalleled weather. Saipan’s has hosted 3/4 million tourists in a single year, entirely from East Asian, making Saipan a playground of seaside golf, scuba diving, sport fishing, snorkelling, parasailing, wind surfing, kayaking, biking, beach volleyball, and barbecuing on the remote pristine beaches. The friendly laid back nature of the inhabitants is as legendary as the tropical breezes.

Saipan’s economic strength is smallness and geographic location. With Saipan’s tiny number of citizens, a little improvement in the regional economy, a minute amount of U.S. investment, or developing a second economic leg could have a dramatic positive effect on the economy.

Ron Hodges
Saipan Real Estate
670-233-1144

Saipan Real Estate new properties 3-12-10

45 NEW CNMI PROPERTIES for SALE 3-12-10!!

1. NEW HOME on San Vicente cliffline, fenced wit pool

& Newly remodeled 3 bed home with fence and outdoor kitchen on Capital Hill for sale (220k) or rent (1300.)

& Remodeled office/store on Capital Hill, 60k or 600. Per month

2. 3500 of Saipan beach, 34 years, 80k

3. San Vicente aapartment complex 30k sq meters with 20 x 1 bedrooms owner financing possible

4. Apartment complex 20k sq meters, 60 x 2 bedrooms, 10 office spaces,warehouse, 2500 sq ft staff house, pool, power generation, Rota property, vacant property, net 300k per year

5. ANAKS condos reduced!

Saipan's only gated community

85k & 95k- small 2 bed lower unit renovated

130k is a higher view units (with financing)

The ANAKS is one kilometer from the Garapan tourist district, beside the bike/walking trail, is the only place on Saipan with potable drinking water from the faucet, has wonderful pool including baby pool(2nd pic down), tennis courts, gated 24 hr security, and this 2 bedroom unit has glorious ocean views of Monagaha Island and the harbor.

6. Executive home with great yard 225k

7. Commercial apartment building draws 7600 rent 750k

8. Beach property 4000 sq meters

9. 7k meters in Guala Rai reduced to 120k

10. Apartment complex rents 12k per month for 800k

11. 3 bed ex condition, some ocean view, windy with nice yard. 225k

12. 3 bed with maids quarters or extra rental, nice location and view. 250k

13. 20k square foot concrete factory building with loading docks, 2 entrances, fenced on

6k square meters...great opportunity

14. NEW 50k meters of Lau Lau Beach...call

15. Apartment complex - owner financing with 300k down

16. 3k square meters of beach property 75k

17. Best deck in Saipan with golden view near Garapan 360k

18. Beach home near Lau lau 600k

19. 22 unit apartment building 600k

20. Apartment complex 8 x 2 bedroom, 34 years, 325k

21. 3 units, two 3 bedrooms plus guest house rental and pool 325k

22. 8 unit with 3k square foot unfinished home upstairs 250k plus 1200.per month starting 2010

23. New building lot in San Antonio. 1/4 acre adjacent to SA elementary school parking ot 150 meters from beach and 150 meters from Beach Rd. Asking 15k

24. 3 bedroom fully concrete home with great ocean view. Owner may finance with 25k down 125k

25. New offering of 5k square meters of view property where you can see the sunrise and the sunset

Super executive homes...Saipan's finest

26. Mt. Topachau 5 bedroom 325k

27. 2 story best view deck in Saipan 360k

28. 4 bedroom Sadag Tasi 400k

29. Best view in Saipan 475k

30. Beach home in Lau Lau 500k

31. 5 bedroom with pool 200k

32. Stylish Sadag Tasi home 350k

33. Executive home with sunrise and sunset450k

34 4 bed Garapan 200k

35 Flametree 3 bedroom 225k

36. Navy Hill mansion 1 million

37. Wireless mansion with sunrise and sunset view 1,000,000.00

38. Navy Hill 3 bedroom 325k

39. Lau Lau Heights 500k

40. Unique mansion on point 425k

41. Beach home two family 475

42. Sleeper 4 bedroom with view 375

43. Capital Hill 225 with wall and huge porch/deck

44. New construction design German engineered on 1600 sq meters with 2350

45. 27. Unbelievable home atop Mt. Top 900k

NEW PROPERTY FROM SAIPAN REAL ESTATE

NEW CNMI PROPERTIES for SALE 2-14-09!!  Happy Valentines Day from Saipan Realty

1. 17 commercial properties ranging from 200k to 3.0 million including...5k squae meters with ocean view for 90k in Navy Hill

A) a 70 unit apartment and with 10 commercial spaces includes view, pool, restaurant, net profit 300k yearly

B) a dormant but excellent condition factory and warehouse 275k

C) an apartment building with six 3 bedroom units and 2 1 bed with ocean view 750k

D) an apartment complex with ocean view and 22 units

E) an apartment complex with 72 units 3.5 million

F) commercial building on Beach Rd with 6 units

G) commercial building in Garapan with 12 units fully occupied

H) Vacant beach hotel

2. 7000 sq meters in Guala Rai with power, water, & some ocean view reduced to 140k – 53 years remain

3. World’s most spectacular view property and Saipan’s best building location.

This view of the fire red sunsets, harbor, tourist district, Monagaha Island, and turquoise lagoon is the best view in America. 52 years remain on lease, clear insurable title, and surrounded by some of Saipan’s finest homes. Property leased in 1996 for 1.4 million can now be acquire for 325k.

4. ANAKS condos!

Saipan's only gated community

85k & 95k- small 2 bed lower unit renovated

150k, 175k, and 225k and these are higher view units.

The ANAKS is one kilometer from the Garapan tourist district, beside the bike/walking trail, is the only place on Saipan with potable drinking water from the faucet, has wonderful pool including baby pool(2nd pic down), tennis courts, gated 24 hr security, and this 2 bedroom unit has glorious ocean views of Monagaha Island and the harbor(36 years remain on lease).

5. Residential homes

a) 4 bed new construction, private and waled with shade trees and jucuzzi bath 135k(Sold)

b) 3 bed with maids quarters or extra rental, nice location and view. 250k

c) 4 bed with pool and wall reduced from 350k to 275k.

d) 3 bed ex condition, some ocean view, windy with nice yard. 225k

e) 4 bed , nice As Matuis location and view. 225k

f) 4 bed with pool and wall reduced from 350k to 275k.

g) 4 bed building permit on great ocean view in Saipan

h) 4 bedroom view deck in Saipan with golden view near Garapan 360k

i) New beach home Lau Lau with wall 600k

j) Commercial Beach Road building with residential 2nd floor, wall, yard, near beach 225k

k) 3 units, two 3 bedrooms plus guest house rental and pool 325k

I have many other cheaper houses in varied condition from 15k to 100k.

l) 8 unit with 3k square foot unfinished home upstairs 250k plus 1200.per month starting 2010

m) New 4 bedroom concrete home in Susupe 135k

6. 50k square meters across from Lau Lau Beach 25

7. 5k square meters with view of sunrise and sunset 240k

233-1144 office              287-4766 cell


Fax 670-323-home         email – a1referrals@yahoo.com         http://www.saipanservices.com/

Saipan exposed...it's the WORLD'S BEST PLACE TO BE A LITTLE BOY

Saipan AP- Saipan, in the Northern Marianas Islands exposed...

its the World’s best place to be a little boy.

Saipan is the capital of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and is absolutely the best place on earth to be a little boy. 

Saturday, I grabbed the camera to document a day in the life of one little boy on Saipan, and we headed out early to celebrate Dane Hodges 4th birthday.(Dane Hodges comes up for air, Saipan, CNMI)

Many Americans have never heard of the Northern Marianas Islands, where America starts her day.  Some US citizens are unaware of the Battle of Saipan as the key to WWII in the Pacific, and oblivious to the US Marine efforts to unseat the legendary Japanese defenders.(Dane Hodges spots Saipan, CNMI)

Saipan has a history of acclaim for breathtaking beauty and as a photographers dream. Yahoo Japan's poll picked Monagaha Island the second best beach in the world. After sharing that news with Saipan kids, one asked “what is number 1, Sugar Dock, Pau Pau, Micro, Wing, Marine, Lau Lau, or Obyan”, or other Saipan beaches. The same Yahoo Japan poll rated Saipan’s Grotto the second best dive site on earth, behind the Blue Corner in the Rock Islands of Palau.

The same way as our dive sites and beaches lay waste to contenders far and wide, so to do we challenge every country, city, village, island, and town on earth as the paradise island for children and the best place for a child to live.

(Dane Hodges rides the bike trail at American Memorial Park with Monagaha Island in the background)

We face many challenges, but little boys don’t worry about our GDP, expensive air travel, high costs of power, water, shipping, or being the lowest average income on US soil. Kids like to play and have outdoor fun, and if that’s the selection criteria, nature dealt us a straight flush. Parents rate safety factors when figuring the best place for their child to live, and again, the CNMI’s lack of traffic, low speed limits, clean air, and protective reef with spectacular turquoise lagoon have convinced affluent parents that could live anywhere, to remain here when economics might dictate moving.  The CNMI has the lowest murder rate and fewest traffic deaths of all US states, territories, including the one thousand largest cities or towns in America.

All roads lead to AMP, Saipan

NMI parents must be America’s most widely travelled, with virtually everyone having travelled throughout Asia, SE Asia including Indonesia, Australia, and throughout thousands of Pacific islands. Saipan’s adults discuss Labuan Bajo, Luang Prabang, Penang, Pokhara, Yap, Truk, and a myriad of other lands that 99% of Americans couldn't’t find on a globe, and choose to live here with our kids. Make no mistake, as much fun as Bali, Thailand, and the 7k Philippines islands may be for adults, the traffic, pollution, crime, and instability of those places are not conducive to raising your child in a safe environment. (Below Dane Hodges and Richie Steele frolic at Palms Resort, Saipan, CNMI)

The small mainland American population in Saipan originated from every US state. Saipan parents are critical of America due to traffic and fast driving resulting in deaths, time spent on the road, harsh winters, polluted cities and air pollution in general, lack of cultural diversity in the SE and Midwest, censured news, racism, a culture of bland unhealthy fast food, violent crime, increase in the availability of dangerous drugs, and being landlocked by a cold, dark, dead ocean as common reasons they would never move their children back to mainland USA. Most who moved back returned asking themselves “what was I thinking”.  Perhaps Henry David Thoreau summarized the pace of life in America best with his ant colony analogy in On Golden Pond. 

Australia seems like a decent place for children if you haven’t been there. Aussies reside overwhelmingly in seven cities, so unless you want your child in an urban environment, don’t take them to such an inhospitable land. They do have unlimited beaches though, if you trust your child swimming in cold water with no protective reef and too many deadly creatures to name, but Saipan parents would all pass.(Left- A scattered shower doesn't stop AMP fun, Dane Hodges on top of the world, Saipan)

Africa and Central/South America are laughable options as well, because between their wars, disease, violent crime, include shocking murder rates, filthy quality of life, most parents here would only allow short well planned vacations to such troubled locales

Europe has a high quality of life in many places, but their brutal north would only be considered for summer vacations. Japan has a wonderful society and sea food equal to the NMI, but their horrific weather rivals the Midwestern United States with bitter cold, snow, ice, rain, mixed with windless humidity in the summer, and figures best for an occasional ski trip. Russia and Canada are endless, but again, only an option for a summer vacation.(Below - Dane Hodges needs a coconut for bait to catch Coconut Crabs, Saipan)

Several Caribbean islands are nice if you stay in protected areas of five star resorts, safe from the crime caused by poverty among the indigenous populace. Other Pacific islands may figure to challenge the Island of Saipan for the title of “the world’s best place to be a kid”, but this author is only aware of one close contender to Saipan. Residents of the capital of the CNMI may also be among the most qualified to make that determination, because while our residents are experienced travellers, percentage wise, few have visited here.

Some who have never travelled dream of moving to Fiji in the South Pacific, which would make Saipan residents laugh out loud. (L- Dane Hodges in foreground as the Japanese defenders surrender Saipan, CNMI WWII museum, AMP

Hawaii would beat us in an Internet poll due to their population, and that is also why they have a traffic standstill. The large and remote big island of Hawaii has attractions, even to spoiled residents of Saipan, but they have long fast drives on single lane roads and the ocean is not safe for a child to swim, even under close supervision. Saipan has children that can swim safely from Monagaha Island(shown above) across our glorious lagoon, but even triathletes are apprehensive about heading out from any Hawaiian island for a long swim due to the current and cold, much less let a child attempt it.

Guam was probably great when the Cormoran visited early in WWI, before millions of brown tree snakes eradicated the birds, and before thousands of sailors created the traffic nightmare that is Guam.  Guam's traffic figures to intensify from the military build-up anticipated to add 50% to the population by 2014

The one contender for Saipan's title, is also found in the Northern Marianas Islands. The southernmost Northern Marianas isle is the Island of Rota, and arriving there is like stepping out of a time machine 50 years back in the past. There is no night life and few lights in ancient Songsong Village after dark. There are no traffic lights and the lone paved road runs nine miles to Songsong along the western beaches and is often absent of motor vehicles. Long known as the 'friendly island" because motorists wave at every person or car they pass. The scenery, beaches, and views are comparable to Saipan. Parents would balk as a little boy haven due to lack of educational opportunities and absence of a quality medical facility, two traits that wouldn't faze little boys though. Kids there prefer Saipan because of Happy Meals that are not available in the remote Island of Rota. While the ocean is offers tremendous diving for adults, Rota lacks the enormous lagoon of Saipan and the water sports available to Saipan's children. The swimming hole of Rota is tempting though, but nine of ten young boys choose the northern capital of Saipan.

(Below - Dane Hodges goes for an ocean swim, Saipan)

The capital of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Island of Saipan, is an enchanting tranquil tropical paradise island of unimaginable beauty; highlighted by turquoise crystal water, fire red sunsets, panoramic views, and unparalleled weather. Saipan's 10k+ voters have hosted 3/4 million tourists in a single year, entirely from East Asian, making Saipan a playground of seaside golf, scuba diving, sport fishing, snorkeling, para sailing, wind surfing, kayaking, biking, beach volleyball, or barbecuing on the remote pristine beaches. The laid back nature of the inhabitants is as legendary as the tropical breezes.(Below - Dane Hodges' Trick or treat islands style, Palms Resort, Saipan, CNMI)

Time is the most enchanting element of living in paradise. Transient tourists roll in and out with the tide, each on a sightseeing timetable. Their eyes follow the hour glass, each hoping to escape the frivolous details of home and knowing they are being counted out of time. Residents here seldom wear watches unless they scuba dive, dinner starts just after sundown, and residents often ask “what month is it.

Saipan is not perfect and the young US commonwealth has a shady political past.  The NMI has had a terrible economic run the past five years, some of our own design, and some from outside economic forces beyond our control including globalization.  The once flourishing NMI garment industry that once poured millions into the local economy closed their last factory in June of 2009, ending the legacy of labor abuse that had tainted the reputation of the decent people of the Northern Marianas.  The NMI government was instrumental in the Jack Abramoff bribery affair of Tom Delay, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives to block federalization of CNMI labor and immigration.  Nearly 20 have plead guilty or are cooperating with that investigation and labor reforms take effect November 28, 2009, ending the story of shame that disgraced the CNMI for a generation.  The CNMI has been plagued with poor governance and poor judgement.  Fascinating as that tale has become, I have never heard of a little boy that worried about it!

The CNMI has had some bright spots recently as well.  Federalization here gave the NMI a delegate to the US House of Representatives, Kilili Sablan, and the Marianas Trench Marine Monument must be one of the seven wonders of the natural world.  Citizens of the world's fastest growing markets, China and Russia, have been granted visa waivers to the CNMI, the only US soil with that distinction, and that will open opportunity from investors and tourists from these heavily populated markets.  Again, none of that is important to island kids! 

Richie Steele (L), leads Dane Hodges (R), in a mad dash from the pool to the ocean, modeling formal island birthday attire (defined in Saipan as sandals with shirt as opposed to informal being optional for both) for occasion.

Little boys on Saipan have 10 major resorts to pool hop and enjoy.  Saipan kids are uninterested that CNMI citizens are the only Americans NOT required to pay US federal income tax. 

Little girls have fun in the Northern Marianas too, and Jinhee and Jinju Thompson have Dane Hodges cornered, Saipan, CNMI

For 150 pictures of both islands, visit our main web page at  Pictures of Saipan and Rota

"Common Dad, this is heavy" Dane Hodges, Saipan

"Please take this boy with you and give me a little rest" Mom

Splashing with Daddy, Saipan

Another Saipan Sunset

Chamberonomics 133...comments to DHS on CNMI transitional guest workers

Chamberonomics 133…comments to DHS

The proposed transitional guest worker regulations accompanying the November 28, 2009 federal takeover of NMI labor and immigration from DHS are complete, flexible, and have address complicated issues with thorough understanding.

The NMI was warned for a generation that artificially depressing wages and building a servant class would have disastrous economic effects, but instead of training young citizens to work in the private sector, we watched organized crime build so much influence in our economy that we began funding Jack Abramoff to block federalization, thereby keeping an indentured servant class instead of employing our own children. The CNMI labor and immigration has always been so corrupt and dysfunctional that rampant immigration fraud is the norm instead of the exception. The Governor’s blanket protection aims to continue the status quo for two more years by keeping the CNMI labor office open.

These regulations address all of our concerns including; security, dependence on foreign labor, guarantees to increase the standard of living and quality of life for low income local citizens, reducing the criminal element residing here, reducing ice and other contraband shipped through the CNMI, opening opportunity for local young people by forcing the private sector to hire US citizens which will be primarily Chamorro and Carolinian, forcing out cheap investors that haven’t paid a US investor visa, and guaranteeing that the control of the CNMI will be returned to local citizens.

Governor Fitial’s blanket aims to include illegal foreign nationals owning businesses, illegal’s, overstayers, scammers, the entire group of illegal recruiters that profiteered off overrunning the CNMI with alien labor, and a myriad of other foreign nationals including immediate relatives of non-US citizens. This undermines the intent of the federalization legislation. Their intent is to keep low wages here, an insult to young local citizens. Selling blanket immigration status should be stopped. The CNMI only needs investors who have paid the minimum US requirements for visa eligibility and DHS should stop them from operating here under blanket protection.

I would like to thank members of the US Department of Homeland Security for another well thought out set of regulations.

Ron Hodges

Saipan

Happy days in the CNMI

An anonymous Saipan lawyer comments that the new DHS transitional worker regulations are "not friendly" according to the Marianas Variety column below.  I disagree and think they address the intent of the law.  The regulations will reduce the number of alien workers over time, offering more opportunity to local youth, are flexible, will reduce fraud from the broken CNMI system, will secure our borders, reduce drugs and contraband flowing through the CNMI, and stabilize the CNMI, which will increase investor confidence over time.

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 00:00 By Gemma Q. Casas & Junhan B. Todeno - For Variety .

THE U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services yesterday announced its “interim final regulations” for guest workers, which a local lawyer described as “not friendly.”

“Imagine people looking back with nostalgia on the ‘good old days’ under the commonwealth system!” said the lawyer who declined to be identified.

Under the regulations, foreign workers seeking to exit and reenter the CNMI to resume their employment must secure a CW status from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a CW1 visa from U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries under the transitional worker program for the CNMI that will take effect on Nov. 28 when U.S. immigration law is extended to the islands.

David Gulick, district director of the USCIS, said the new CW-1 non immigrant visa classification does not entitle any foreign worker to travel anywhere in the United States as it is strictly and exclusively for the CNMI.

Under the regulations, employers must submit CW-1 applications for their foreign workers to the USCIS California Service Center.

The application fee is $320 and there is a separate fee of $150 which will go to the CNMI government’s education funds.(Right-Blue sunset NMI)

Biometrics must be performed at the USCIS Saipan office for a fee of $80, which can be waived if applicants can show an inability to pay.

Gulick said the CW application is typically processed within a 60-day period.

Janna Evans, regional lead for community relations of USCIS Western Region, said they are ready to answer more questions this Friday at American Memorial Park’s from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Gulick said the numerical limit for the CW-1 non immigrant status will be 22,417 but this will be gradually reduced to zero by the end of the transition period or Dec. 31, 2014.
(Below - Sunset on Saipan)

“The CW-1 status is valid only for a year. Non-immigrants in good standing may obtain a one-year extension subject to the availability under the numerical cap,” the USCIS said in a media release.

U.S. Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan made the following preliminary comment regarding the proposed rules:

“Public Law 110-229 [the federalization law] requires that the transitional worker program be designed to promote the maximum use of U.S. workers. The law is also supposed to prevent wages and working conditions for our local residents from getting worse because of competition from alien workers.

“It is widely recognized that at the present time we do not have enough local residents to fill all the jobs in our economy. So we still need alien workers.

“But thinking ahead, 5-10 years, we are going to want to see fewer alien workers and many more CNMI citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and people from the Freely Associated States filling the jobs in our economy.

“So I will be examining the rule that was issued today very carefully to make sure that in the long run the result will be more jobs and better paying jobs for local people. That is my goal.”

Leaders of guest worker groups yesterday said they will “thoroughly” review the 63-page regulations.

Rene Reyes, Coalition of United Workers president, said they have to translate some portions of the regulations.

Itos Feliciano, Human Dignity Movement president, said they and the other groups will jointly comment on the regulations.

All written comments must be submitted on or before 30 days from the regulations’ date of publication in the Federal Registrar.

Boni Sagana, Dekada Movement president, said the two-year umbrella permit issued by the CNMI Department of Labor will help guest workers maintain a legal status during the transition period.

He said their group’s legal counsel, Steve Woodruff, is assisting them in assessing the federal regulations.

Raby Syed, United Workers Movement, NMI president, said they want to hear the opinions, views and comments of as many guest workers as possible.

He is encouraging all guest workers to attend the forum at American Memorial Park on Friday to learn about the federal transitional worker program.
End

I think the comments and written recommendations of David Cohen, Tina Sablan, Wendy Doromal, and Steve Woodruff are evident throughout the document and means DHS certainly listened to our intelligent citizens in preparing this comprehensive set of regulations.  It is equally evident that DHS dismissed the interests of Governor Fitial and his status-quo group clinging for hopes to continue the age old system of two tiered servitude in the Northern Marianas Islands.

Ron Hodges
Saipan
Northern Marianas Islands