Senate committee hears support, questions for Bartley A. Jackson’s nomination to Commonwealth Port Authority board
February 06, 2025 | Senate, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
A Senate standing committee on Thursday heard testimony supporting the nomination of Bartley A. Jackson to the Commonwealth Port Authority board of directors to represent Saipan and questioned the nominee on how he would address CPA’s financial deficits, staffing gaps and coordination with tourism agencies.
The hearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation took place at the Senate Chamber, Kaptuk Hill, Saipan. The committee heard introductions from the governor’s representative, Oscar Babauta, then received testimony from Jackson and a series of public speakers, all of whom spoke in support of the nomination. The committee recorded that four members were present and one member was absent.
Jackson, who said he has lived in the Marianas for 35 years and has been a full-time CNMI resident for six years, told senators he does not “purport to be an expert in the business of the port authority” but that he will “bring a business perspective” and “a tourism perspective” to the board if confirmed. He cited decades of hospitality and hotel-management experience, an MBA from Columbia University and a background promoting air service to the islands.
Public supporters emphasized Jackson’s tourism experience and local ties. Jay Santos, testifying for himself, said he worked with Jackson at Pacific Islands Club in the late 1990s and urged confirmation, adding, “We need to improve upon the only viable industry we have and that is tourism.” Mayor Edwin Piolan of Tinian also testified in favor, saying Jackson’s development and management experience would help address CPA’s “financial challenges.” Written submissions received by the committee included support from Edwin P. Audon, mayor of the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan, and Frederick A. Pangolinan, acting executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority; the committee noted no written opposition had been received.
Committee members pressed Jackson on specific CPA operations and finance issues. Several senators asked him to review the agency’s citizen-centric report and to work closely with the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), Guam Visitor’s Bureau (GVB) and local industry groups to align demand-generation with port and airport planning. Jackson said he has previously negotiated with airline executives and tour operators and that attracting seats — “butts in seats,” in his words — is essential to restoring tourism.
Senators also cited figures from the CPA citizen-centric report showing a history of airport deficits and comparatively stronger seaport finances. A committee member summarized the airport numbers as roughly $4.0 million in revenue and $14.0 million in expenses for fiscal 2022 (a $10.0 million deficit), about $7.9 million revenue versus nearly $15.0 million expenses for fiscal 2023, and roughly $11.8 million revenue against $13.6 million expenses for fiscal 2024 (a $1.7 million deficit). By contrast the seaport showed multi-year surpluses: roughly $6.5 million revenue and $3.8 million expense in FY 2022, and steady revenue growth to about $8.0 million in FY 2024 with expenses near $3.0 million.
Committee members raised operational concerns beyond finance: aging airport facilities, a cumbersome procurement process that delays goods and services, and staffing disparities among islands. The committee noted the citizen-centric report lists 19 seaport employees in Saipan, one in Rota and three in Tinian; a senator told Jackson that a single employee at a port is insufficient to maintain safe operations and asked him to take staffing balance into account if confirmed.
Jackson declined to promise specific policies he could not yet evaluate, saying he would first review CPA precedent and rules before pledging procedural changes. On public participation, Jackson said he supported public hearings for decisions that directly affect a municipality, using a previously held public hearing on renaming Tinian’s airport as an example of a local process that he said should include local voices.
The committee opened and closed public comment during the hearing; two committee motions recorded on the record — adoption of the meeting agenda and adjournment — were both approved. The committee chair said oral testimonies and written submissions will be included in the standing committee’s recommendation and forwarded to the full Senate for consideration of confirmation or rejection.
No confirmation vote occurred at the hearing. The matter will proceed to the full Senate with the committee’s report, including the oral and written testimony the committee received.
The hearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation took place at the Senate Chamber, Kaptuk Hill, Saipan. The committee heard introductions from the governor’s representative, Oscar Babauta, then received testimony from Jackson and a series of public speakers, all of whom spoke in support of the nomination. The committee recorded that four members were present and one member was absent.
Jackson, who said he has lived in the Marianas for 35 years and has been a full-time CNMI resident for six years, told senators he does not “purport to be an expert in the business of the port authority” but that he will “bring a business perspective” and “a tourism perspective” to the board if confirmed. He cited decades of hospitality and hotel-management experience, an MBA from Columbia University and a background promoting air service to the islands.
Public supporters emphasized Jackson’s tourism experience and local ties. Jay Santos, testifying for himself, said he worked with Jackson at Pacific Islands Club in the late 1990s and urged confirmation, adding, “We need to improve upon the only viable industry we have and that is tourism.” Mayor Edwin Piolan of Tinian also testified in favor, saying Jackson’s development and management experience would help address CPA’s “financial challenges.” Written submissions received by the committee included support from Edwin P. Audon, mayor of the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan, and Frederick A. Pangolinan, acting executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority; the committee noted no written opposition had been received.
Committee members pressed Jackson on specific CPA operations and finance issues. Several senators asked him to review the agency’s citizen-centric report and to work closely with the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), Guam Visitor’s Bureau (GVB) and local industry groups to align demand-generation with port and airport planning. Jackson said he has previously negotiated with airline executives and tour operators and that attracting seats — “butts in seats,” in his words — is essential to restoring tourism.
Senators also cited figures from the CPA citizen-centric report showing a history of airport deficits and comparatively stronger seaport finances. A committee member summarized the airport numbers as roughly $4.0 million in revenue and $14.0 million in expenses for fiscal 2022 (a $10.0 million deficit), about $7.9 million revenue versus nearly $15.0 million expenses for fiscal 2023, and roughly $11.8 million revenue against $13.6 million expenses for fiscal 2024 (a $1.7 million deficit). By contrast the seaport showed multi-year surpluses: roughly $6.5 million revenue and $3.8 million expense in FY 2022, and steady revenue growth to about $8.0 million in FY 2024 with expenses near $3.0 million.
Committee members raised operational concerns beyond finance: aging airport facilities, a cumbersome procurement process that delays goods and services, and staffing disparities among islands. The committee noted the citizen-centric report lists 19 seaport employees in Saipan, one in Rota and three in Tinian; a senator told Jackson that a single employee at a port is insufficient to maintain safe operations and asked him to take staffing balance into account if confirmed.
Jackson declined to promise specific policies he could not yet evaluate, saying he would first review CPA precedent and rules before pledging procedural changes. On public participation, Jackson said he supported public hearings for decisions that directly affect a municipality, using a previously held public hearing on renaming Tinian’s airport as an example of a local process that he said should include local voices.
The committee opened and closed public comment during the hearing; two committee motions recorded on the record — adoption of the meeting agenda and adjournment — were both approved. The committee chair said oral testimonies and written submissions will be included in the standing committee’s recommendation and forwarded to the full Senate for consideration of confirmation or rejection.
No confirmation vote occurred at the hearing. The matter will proceed to the full Senate with the committee’s report, including the oral and written testimony the committee received.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting