U.S.
Interior's Office of Insular Affairs Director Nikolau Pula said yesterday his
office is open to assisting the CNMI by way of allowing the redirection of
capital improvement project funds to help repair the Tinian pier which, in
turn, would help support a proposed multimillion Tinian ship recycling
facility.
First
International Corp. or FIC owner Paul Slater is currently in the CNMI to
reaffirm their interest in putting up a ship recycling facility on Tinian.
The
proposed facility will turn decommissioned U.S. naval ships into scrap metal
and sell them in the open market.
But
the project hinges on, among other things, the necessary repair of the Tinian
pier. This is where the CNMI needs OIA's help.
Pula
and Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz said there is no specific amount of CIP money
requested yet for reprogramming because this amount could be known today, after
CNMI officials meet with the FIC owner on Tinian.
Pula
said the Tinian recycling facility could bring economic development to Tinian,
and OIA would like to be able to help.
“The
meeting they have (today) will determine the exact cost,” he told reporters
after the meeting.
Dela
Cruz and members of the Tinian Legislative Delegation led by Sen. Frank Cruz
(R-Tinian), Sen. Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Tinian), and Rep. Trenton Conner
(R-Tinian) held a closed-door meeting in the Senate chamber yesterday with
Pula, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, CIP Office representatives and the Commonwealth
Ports Authority to get consensus on the project. Most of them are set to meet
today, again, with FIC officials on Tinian.
After
yesterday's closed-door meeting, Dela Cruz said the CNMI will make an official
request to OIA to allow the reprogramming of CIP money to help repair Tinian's
pier.
He
said today's meeting on Tinian will discuss costs, including the money that FIC
is willing to invest, and the funding needed by the CNMI to repair the Tinian
pier.
Dela
Cruz said a minimum of $3.5 million is needed for the Tinian pier repair, which
is key to getting the Tinian ship recycling facility project off the ground.
“CIP
is one of them (possible funding source) and we're still working to see if we
can find additional funding somewhere,” he said.
But
Dela Cruz said there are still provisions in the memorandum of understanding
that have yet to be addressed.
He
also said FIC has yet to submit a business plan.
Dela
Cruz also clarified that the planned project is a ship recycling facility, not
a repair facility nor a shipyard. The vessels will be “scrubbed” to U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency standards.
Source: saipan tribune. By Haidee V. Eugenio. 23
June 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment