Power outage cuts Chamber gubernatorial debate short

Talk about irony.

Utilities and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. were the final topics before intermission at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s gubernatorial debate held last Oct. 1.

Then, a little past 8pm, the power went pffft.

The outage at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium forced the Chamber to postpone the remainder of the Oct. 1 debate featuring gubernatorial candidates Blas Jonathan “BJ” T. Attao, Republican Ralph DLG Torres, and Lawrence F. Camacho.

It happened as Tropical Storm Choi-Wan bore down on the Northern Marianas.

Chamber president Dr. Joshua Wise said the Chamber plans to continue the second half of the debate online at a future date after conferring with the three candidates.

No date was immediately announced.

The Chamber forum was the third gubernatorial debate of the 2026 general election campaign, following earlier debates organized by the Northern Marianas Descent Corp. and Marianas Press.

Northern Marianas Humanities Council executive director Leo Pangelinan served as moderator.

Some audience members commented afterward that it would have been even more ironic had the power gone out minutes earlier—while the three candidates were discussing CUC, power generation, renewable energy, utility costs and the CNMI’s aging infrastructure.

Utilities and infrastructure were the final full topic before the scheduled 15-minute intermission.

Torres called for construction of a new power plant and greater use of renewable energy.

“We need to build a new power plant,” Torres said.

Camacho discussed replacing diesel engines using federal funding and expanding access to solar panels and batteries.

He said the goal is to reach a point where “utilities are not going to be a problem that we discuss each and every day.”

Attao focused on stabilizing CUC, renewable energy, generating capacity and making sure investments eventually translate into savings for customers.

“What we need to make sure is the trickle-down effect gets to you, the ratepayers,” Attao said.

Before intermission, the candidates also tackled tourism and air access, government size and efficiency, economic diversification and workforce.

Air access figured prominently in the tourism discussion, with all three candidates calling for more flights to the CNMI.

Attao discussed working with federal partners and allied countries to expand connections from Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.

Torres pointed to his previous dealings with airlines and said restoring air service requires partnerships beyond simply selling hotel rooms.

Camacho said Korea and Japan would be priorities under his tourism recovery plan, followed by other markets. He also proposed encouraging tourists to stay longer and spend more while visiting the CNMI.

Workforce was another major topic as the CNMI approaches the 2029 expiration of the CW-1 program.

Attao called for an extension of the program while using CW-related funds and Pell Grants to train residents for private-sector jobs.

“We need to work with our delegates to make sure at the very least get an extension of the CW program,” Attao said.

Torres said the CNMI will continue to need foreign workers while also investing in its resident workforce. He called for government, businesses and educational institutions to identify the jobs and skills the Commonwealth will need over the next five to 10 years.

Camacho described workforce as a pipeline issue.

“Train here, work here, and build here,” he said.

Camacho said education and training should be aligned with the industries where the CNMI needs workers.

Healthcare was the first topic after intermission.

Camacho focused on medical referrals and their cost, saying reforms are needed to control spending and reduce the number of patients who have to leave the CNMI for treatment.

Attao emphasized preventive healthcare, including mobile clinics in the villages and public health education.

“Preventative care is where we should go,” Attao said.

Torres discussed Medicaid funding and expanding the Northern Marianas College nursing program to develop more healthcare workers locally.

But the debate did not get much further, as a little past 8pm, the gym went dark.

The outage came as Choi-Wan approached the Northern Marianas. The National Weather Service had placed Saipan and Tinian under a tropical storm warning, while Alamagan and Pagan were under both a tropical storm warning and typhoon watch.