Covenant Party Platform

Meeting Our Challenges With You
Proven Leadership – Proven Experience
An Agenda You Can Count on

The Covenant Party was founded to address the needs of the Commonwealth and its people, as well as the problems that had been for decades ignored by the traditional political parties.  The problems of a declining economy worsened by a failure to plan for bad times during the boom years, and all of the trials and tribulations that have resulted are the focus of the Covenant Party mission.

The Covenant Party was also founded specifically to provide the leadership with community and private sector participation to promote, support, and carry out economic, education, environment, ethics, community, social, health, and welfare programs, among others, for all people in the Commonwealth.

The Covenant Party is committed to meeting the following goals:  Preservation of Self-Government and Self-Determination; the right of the people of the Commonwealth to decide their future status; to preserve, advance, and enrich the level of self-government and control as provided by the Covenant; and, to provide the funding  necessary to meet this goal, the Fitial-Inos Team will continue to aggressively seek and actively promote and foster the success of all lawful businesses in the Commonwealth.

All of these efforts are directed to develop strategic economic policies and programs to ensure that local residents are educated and trained to fill all levels of employment in the private and public sectors consistent with the needs of the community.

The Covenant Party has an absolute priority in the development and expansion of intern, apprenticeship, and joint private/public sectors programs that prepare our graduates, community members and returning residents for work in the private sector, while earning a meaningful wage for their family; and that provides for upward mobility in the career ladder of their choice.

The Covenant Party is working to ensure the availability of appropriate healthcare services for all residents through a series of programs such as telemedicine, information technology, the establishment of medical education training institutions, including NMC, and specialist medical exchange programs in the CNMI.

We hold that a critical part of expanding business and the economy, promoting a healthy community and attracting visitors, among other essential developments, involves the expansion of public utilities.  It is paramount to improve and expand utilities and infrastructure of every type and nature in the Commonwealth to meet Federal quality and quantity standards.

The Fitial-Inos Team and Covenant candidates have developed these goals and their objectives for legislative and municipal offices.  They are based on decades of personal experience in the community, in volunteer efforts, in the course of their own family and extended family experience, and in working to promote community activities for the betterment of all residents. 

The Covenant Party Team, led by Governor Benigno Repeki Fitial and Lt. Governor Eloy Songao Inos, have the proven leadership, proven experience, the vision, and the ability to provide the leadership you require to carry out improvements you expect, and to do so at the level of excellence you demand and deserve.

REINVIGORATING THE ECONOMY

Improving the economy in the face of a world-wide recession is absolutely the most formidable challenge we face.  In acknowledging this situation we pledge to use all of our resources, those of the community, and others in the region, to attract and promote economic development.  This includes aggressively embracing a US Military presence in the CNMI.  We will move into new tourism markets and seek out new businesses that have yet to recognize the CNMI's potential.

One of the foundations of achieving a better economy is maintaining responsible government spending.  The Covenant party believes that our government must maintain fiscal responsibility, and that means setting realistic budget revenue projections with no deficit spending.  The Covenant Party will ensure that the government is responsible for assisting current businesses and attracting new businesses by supporting a simplified tax system. The CNMI cannot expect businesses to stay and grow, or to promote new business development, unless the tax system is business friendly and fair.  The Covenant party also believes that a simplified tax system will benefit residents by giving them additional money to meet their personal needs.  In turn, this too will benefit local businesses.

Private Sector Involvement and Partnership is a Beginning.  The Covenant Party believes that maintaining investment-friendly labor policies will result in job creation in the private sector, which is positive for local businesses and residents.

A cherished goal of all families is home ownership.  The need to provide affordable home ownership for our residents and to create a more liquid real estate market is recognized by the Covenant Party as essential for families to achieve this cherished goal.  This can be done through innovative legislation that the Fitial-Inos Team will sponsor.  Also included in this action will be affordable home loan programs.  These actions will all be supported by increased employment for our local workforce with a living wage.

New Business Opportunities Lead to Improved Economy

New business opportunities are the natural result of the Covenant Party's economic goals.  Among the many efforts that we plan are the support of new business, diversification and entrepreneurship.

In order to achieve the economic goal of securing more business opportunities, we must develop new agricultural and fishing industries for local consumption and export.  The achievement of this goal also ties into creating for CNMI residents, an expanded local economy, increased exports, reduced costs of imported goods, and higher living standards in the community.

Achieving new business opportunity means the Fitial-Inos Team will embrace the U. S. military build up by working with the Department of Defense and other military entities for economic development in the CNMI.  The military expenditures in the CNMI will result in business growth, new businesses, more jobs and new jobs for  residents at higher wages.  Improved economic opportunities will allow families affordable homes and more money in their pockets.  Not only will families benefit, there will be increased government revenue allowing for better health and other public services and education.

The private education business has only just begun in the last few years; the Covenant Party fully intends to promote the continual expansion of private education businesses in a wider variety of areas beyond health and trades.

Tourism

Expanding tourism markets and airline flights is essential to the economy.  This expansion is absolutely essential to the Covenant Party plan to improve the CNMI economy.  This includes increased tourist activities and attractions for all ages. 

Among our tourism expansion plans is the promotion of Eco-tourism in the CNMI.  To achieve these goals, it is necessary to increase flight service to the CNMI from tourist markets, and identify emerging tourism markets, to include educational-tourism.

EDUCATION

Approximately 60% of students who graduate in the CNMI do not go to college degree programs, yet most of our high school programs are college prep in nature.  It is essential that we work with school systems and the private sector, U.S. Government and Military, and other training resource organizations to provide options for the 60% that do not go to college.  These options includes blue collar, semiprofessional, white collar, secretarial careers, office management careers, accounting/bookkeeping careers and other careers that are common in the private sector but not available to our residents.  The Covenant Party believes that resources are available to significantly resolve this situation by working with the Public School System (PSS) and the Northern Marianas College (NMC), as well as other education related institutions, including the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Military Education Initiative.

The Covenant Party respects the constitutional autonomy of PSS and NMC.  Without this respect we cannot work in good faith with each other to access resources, identify problems, develop solutions and improve programs.  Included in this effort is the formal invitation by the Governor for the Public School System Commissioner and the Northern Marianas College President to attend weekly governor cabinet meetings. 

Working with PSS and NMC, the Fitial-Inos Team will continue to provide assistance as needed in program development, grant writing and access to financial resources.  This includes scheduling meetings at the highest level between PSS and NMC, the U.S. Military and U.S. Government offices.  An important example is the U.S. Military funding pool to assist local students in apprenticeship programs so they may be employable in jobs created by the Military build-up.

The Covenant Party believes in linking the Department of Labor Electronic Employment and the Workforce Investment Agency Employment websites and databases to PSS and NMC, as well as the Military websites and the U.S. Government Employment websites, so they can easily be accessible to students, graduates, residents in the mainland, and local residents. 

In the past, lack of communication has been a major barrier to employment.  The Covenant Party will overcome this barrier and work with our residents to ensure they understand how to use these modern employment technologies.

The need to provide additional funding for capital improvement and operations for PSS and NMC is a paramount priority.  One source for funding is the Department of Interior’s Capital Improvement Project funding for new PSS and NMC capital buildings, including academic, faculty and library resources.  PSS clearly needs updated classrooms and schools, as well as ancillary equipment, such as computers, laboratory equipment, etc.   There is also a significant need for academic and nonacademic (vocational) focused educational materials and supplies.  

The Covenant Party strongly believes that only through joint cooperation and support can PSS, NMC and WIA access resources to implement programs to provide local students with skills to replace nonresident workers in the private sector.  For example, all office managers, office specialists, secretaries, bookkeepers and accountants, among other positions, should be filled by local residents, returning residents, and local graduates.   Additional jobs that could be filled by residents include truck drivers and heavy equipment operators, as well as hotel sector positions identified by the 2007 Employment Summit Job List for Residents, and the Office of Public Auditor Jobs Report.

ENVIRONMENT:

The natural resources we enjoy define both our islands and our people.  The Covenant Party believes our resources must be managed so as to be sustainable and useable by the people in moderation, while preserving prosperity for our children and visitors.  In order to succeed, the Covenant Party will continue to lead the effort to maintain progress gained in protecting and sustaining the lands, oceans, and coasts for future generations.

This effort must be ongoing, always exploring, and using new insights into ocean eco-systems through innovative conservation techniques.  To assist in this effort, we will promote an eco-system based policy of accountability for the long-term conservation of our natural resources. 

To accomplish this absolutely essential objective, Fitial-Inos promise to continue to support and enforce good fishing practices based on marine science.  This includes monitoring best practices, informing the local population, and monitoring our ocean eco-system.

The promotion and use of sustainable alternative energy and environmentally friendly sources of power serves two essential purposes. First, with respect to the use of fossil fuels, alternative fuels will reduce pollution and contamination in the environment.   Second, it will reduce the pollution and run-off into the lagoon benefiting our conservation efforts.

ETHICS:

We demand accountability, we require responsibility, and we insist on reasonable transparency in government.  In order to do this we support the continuous practice of the ethical use of public funds through consistent accountability and fiscal responsibility. To this end, we hold all government employees of all ranks accountable. 

The Fitial-Inos Team will continue to insist that the highest ethical standards are met by all government agencies and this ongoing process must involve the Office of Public Auditor, the Attorney General, the Inspector General, the Office of Finance and Accounting, the Office of Tax and Revenue, Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Procurement and Supply, among other governmental organizations. 

In order to continue to ensure that government laws and policies for contracting, procurement, and administration are followed, the Covenant Party requires that all laws, regulations and policies be strictly adhered to according to the standards of the agencies that monitor these activities.  To support these high ethical standards, we ask that government employees and community residents, as well as the private sector, continue to inform the respective investigative bodies whenever questionable activity is identified.

ESSENTIALS: 

Homeland Security

Homeland Security has become a vital responsibility for the protection and safety of the community.  The first step in this effort is to identify local and national priorities.

Step number two is to work closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies in implementing the Preventive, Response and Recovery Plan. This means maintaining daily and real-time communication with the U.S. Homeland Security, other federal organizations, and our own CNMI counterparts.

Step number three is to partner with business and community groups to implement efficient CNMI prevention, response and recovery efforts.  It is important in this process that we maintain public awareness, public involvement, and work with public safety and other community organizations.

Public Safety impacts how visitors experience the Commonwealth, how residents enjoy the community, how businesses prosper, and how it impacts the physical safety of everyone.

In order to enhance public safety services, the Covenant Party plans to increase minimum standards for personnel in public safety, emergency medical and fire services.  Enhancing public safety not only requires minimum standards established in the Police and Fire Academy, but the implementation of recognized and used community-based programs. 

These programs help the community understand the responsibilities of our public safety officers and firefighters; they educate the public regarding community safety programs, such as Fire Prevention, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) public education programs, Neighborhood Watch, Criminal Oriented Policing Services, Sexual Offender Registry program, and Crime Stoppers. The Covenant Party strongly supports these programs and fully intends to expand them to the extent possible.

One other important part of having a strong public safety program is having adequate funding for equipment and other essentials. In recognition of the safety of our officers and firefighters, and the public, the Covenant Party intends to ensure that all public safety officers and firefighters have appropriate equipment and supplies to carry out their duties.

Power, Water, Sewer Systems and other Infrastructure

These are some of the most complicated and expensive projects to build and maintain in the entire CNMI.  They are expensive in terms of the cost of construction, they are expensive in terms of the cost of maintenance, and they are expensive to expand.  Not only are they expensive, they are very time consuming in planning, designing, developing the component parts, shipping of engines and other equipment.  Beyond this, these systems are extraordinarily expensive to run given the current cost of diesel fuel and other necessary lubricants and materials.

Understanding this, the Covenant Party will work towards providing the reliable power, water, and wastewater services to the communities that are required by people and businesses.  In order to do this, we must increase power generation supply, provide regular maintenance and upgrade generators and the power distribution systems.

A number of initiatives must be implemented.  The Fitial-Inos team is committed to implementing them to improve power, water, sewer systems, and other infrastructures to meet Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) standards.

The first step is to ensure that the current power generators are maintained, refurbished, and upgraded according to manufacturer specifications.  This includes a renovation of the electric power line distribution systems.

A second effort will be the expansion of the Geothermal Exploration Project.  The possibility of realizing cheap electric power from geothermal sources is real and the Fitial-Inos team intends to use this cheap power to the fullest extent possible to reduce costs for individuals and businesses in the community.

Geothermal Electric Power Initiative:  The Fitial-Inos Team strongly supports the funding of continual exploration for the purpose of identifying viable cost-effective geothermal resources that can be used to create cheap electric power.  These resources exist and we will harness them for the benefit of the community.

Developing renewable electric energy supplies is important.  It is not the only area of our focus. We must also address the issue of increasing and improving the quantity and quality of water supply to individuals and businesses in the community.  This goal is important to expanding our economy, improving the health of our residents, attracting tourists, and new investors and businesses.

The Covenant Party will include increasing water supplies in the homesteads and in the community.  The Covenant Party also believes that adequate water must be provided for our farmers and aquaculture businesses.  This will have the dual effect of increasing revenue to small businesses and families and expanding our exporting businesses.

All homes, whether in villages or homesteads, must be connected to sewer lines and disposal/treatment systems that comply with EPA requirements. 

One component of implementing a functional alternative energy program is the need to partner with relevant agencies to develop sustainable energy plans and to maintain qualified and trained technical and administrative staff.

Funding for infrastructure of all kinds from design to implementation and maintenance, whether power, water or sewer, will come from federal stimulus grants that have already been submitted to the federal government, and in most cases funded.

Health Care

Health Care is the most important responsibility of the government. As such, we are responsible to safeguard the well being of all CNMI residents and visitors.   The Fitial-Inos Team will continue to monitor the health care legislation being debated in the U.S. Congress and  work with the U.S. Delegate to ensure that the best interest of the people of CNMI  are being served.

To do this, we must improve recruitment and retention of qualified medical care providers on Saipan, Tinian and Rota as soon as possible.  An important component of this effort is the support and partnership with private healthcare providers and community based health programs.

The Covenant Party believes that community based health programs improve early detection and prevention of serious illnesses associated with cancer, diabetes, strokes, and heart diseases.  The more quickly these illnesses are identified and treated, the greater the chances of early recovery for the patient and the less expensive the cost will be to the family and the community.

However, there are other services that cannot be provided locally on a timely basis and that are very expensive.  In order to overcome these barriers to good health for our residents, the Covenant Party supports distance learning and telemedicine linking inter-islands and the mainland to provide timely and needed specialized medical support in a cost-effective manner.

Providing various health services to our older CNMI residents and people with disabilities has been a challenge.  The Covenant Party is committed to improving the quality of health care services to these traditionally underserved groups. 

Community Programs

A healthy community requires quality programs for residents of all ages and needs.  Part of this effort means developing programs to improve employment opportunities in the private sector for graduates, displaced workers, and returning residents.

In order to carry out these activities, the Covenant Party will pursue resources to enhance local programs for residents, and promote innovative ways to support new community programs.

Retirement Fund Relief 

The Covenant Party supports the constitutional initiative to issue a pension obligation bond to provide relief to the NMI Retirement Fund (NMIRF) on the cumulative employer contribution due from the central government.  Further, it allows the government to pay for current operations while the economy recovers without jeopardizing the solvency of the Fund. 

To limit the Fund's losses, we will support the NMIRF's established working group recommendations that are also endorsed by the NMIRF actuary.  These recommendations include reform policies in order to reduce fund liabilities.  We also support the denial of benefits for members convicted of a criminal felony carried out during the course of employment. 

To protect the retirees, the Covenant Party also believes that the Fund's portfolio management should be improved.  This means we should revisit the Fund's investment policy and its strategic portfolio allocations to minimize risk during market downturns.  This includes the Fund's equity and fixed income investment allocations.  We need to improve the quality of the Fund's money managers/financial consultants and ensure that we minimize the costs of portfolio management.  We have been paying too much in fees for substandard money management that has failed us in the current bear market.  We believe that the Fund should invest more of its assets in funds that will improve performance and increase investment earnings while reducing costs.

Ultimately, the Commonwealth's ability to fund our government's Defined Benefit program depends on the strength and growth of our local economy.  If we increase economic growth, we will increase government revenues and more resources will be available to fund our state pension program.

Federal Relations: 

Local Self Government

While we want to continue the strong relationship we currently enjoy with the U.S. federal government, we will strongly push for the right of self government, particularly as it relates to financial matters.  Our ability to decide matters that directly affect our economy and livelihood are paramount in any relationship with Congress and the Obama Administration. 

Immigration

The Covenant Party will continue to support maximum local self government for the CNMI when dealing with the federal government.  We will also support maximum economic development for the prosperity of the people of the CNMI when dealing with our federal government. 

This means that federal immigration policies must provide the needed flexibility to ensure the success of our local economy.  For example, in dealing with the visa waiver issue, the CNMI must continue to have access to our vital Russian and Chinese tourism markets.  This means that the new federal investor visa program will provide the CNMI with access to much needed foreign investment.  The CNMI should also have access to foreign student markets in order to support our emerging education industry.  The CNMI must be granted access to a foreign workforce in order to supplement our local workforce.  Under federal immigration controls, the CNMI must maintain reasonable and necessary flexibility for economic development in order to protect the livelihood of its residents.

Federal Funding

The Covenant Party will continue to work closely with our elected Washington Delegate and the Executive Branch and will actively pursue all available federal funding for the benefit of the people of the CNMI.  This includes the liquidation of federal Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds.  We should also avail of the Stimulus/ARRA Funds, which includes Federal Highway, Energy, Education, Community Development Block Grants, and other federal funding grant sources.