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10/06/2025 - At the Sabalu Market at Marianas Business Plaza last Oct. 4, residents and vendors had a clear message for elected officials—cut back on government spending, support small businesses, and bring tourists back to the Northern Marianas.
When asked what the government should do to reduce expenses and improve the economy, many pointed to cutting government perks before asking ordinary people to sacrifice.
“Those selected officials need to return all those leased vehicles. Reduce their salaries, not [take from] the poor people,” one resident said.
“[It’s like] the private sector is helping the government. It's not the government helping the private [sector],” another resident said.
Vendors also said the administration could do more to promote community events to support microbusinesses. One seller explained that on Tinian, Mayor Edwin P. Aldan regularly invites vendors from Saipan to participate in fiestas and other events. Ditto for Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” B. Camacho.
“Mayor RB and the mayor of Tinian they're really helping a lot for their people there. Let's say they're going to have the fiesta this coming October. The mayor there calls us if we want to sell there, and yeah, we're going to be there. So, the mayor, help us, and then we have people there on Tinian. So hopefully, the same thing also happens here on Saipan, right? We want the governor, we want the government, you know, help us small businesses.”
She also expressed concern that while their loans and bills have remained the same, their incomes have shrunk as the economy slows.
“Your loan is set at the same amount, but our income is getting lower, so it's not balanced. There's no balance, so we cannot pay our loan at the bank, because the economy is so low,” the small business owner said.
For one clothing boutique vendor, the labor crunch has made matters worse. Many of her customers, mostly foreign workers, have left the island after their employers failed to renew their contracts.
“For [the government] to help me in my business right now, I think we need a lot of tourists. How the government can help us is to have a lot of tourists,” she said.
Several long-time residents urged officials to live within the government’s means and not spend what it does not have. One elder recalled that the CNMI once had strong economic ties with Japan and said revitalizing that market should be a top priority.
“We need the Japanese market forefront because historically the ties that we have, people should not forget, this was once the little Tokyo,” he said.
The comments come as the government prepares for deep austerity measures after lawmakers passed a $179-million budget, of which only $156 million is actually available. The administration of Gov. David M. Apatang has already announced shorter work hours, a freeze on hiring, and other belt-tightening steps.
But for those at Sabalu Market, the message was clear—the burden should not fall on struggling families and small businesses. Instead, they want leaders to lead by example, cut unnecessary spending, and focus on reviving the islands’ tourism lifeline.
Report by Mark Rabago
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