Executive Actions

On March 19, 2020, I issued the Second Amended Executive Order 2020-04 (hereinafter “SAEO 2020-04”). SAEO 2020-04 declared a continuing State of Significant Emergency and a State of Public Health Emergency for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands due to the imminent threat of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Under SAEO 2020-04, I invoked my authority under Article III, § 10 of the Commonwealth Constitution, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Act of 2013, 1 CMC § 20144, and the CNMI Emergency Health Powers Act of 2003, 3 CMC §§ 2181-2195, to take all necessary measures to address the threats facing the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“CNMI”). 

WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel virus that is the cause of severe acute respiratory illness. It was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China (“PRC’) in December of 2019. As of 16 March, over 169,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 140 countries and territories, with major outbreaks in mainland China, Europe, Iran, and South Korea, among others. More than 6,500 people have died from the disease. 

Pursuant to my authority invoked under Amended Executive Order No. 2020-004 which issued a Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency and continued State of Significant Emergency establishing response, quarantine, and preventive containment measures concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), I hereby direct the Department of Public Safety and all CNMI law enforcement officers to strictly enforce the curfew laws for minors throughout the three municipalities (Saipan, Tinian and Aguiguan, and Rota) of the Commonwealth subject to 10 CMC § 3313, 10 CMC § 2703, and 10 CMC § 1503 of the Commonwealth Code. 

On January 29, 2020, a Declaration of Significant Emergency was declared for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. On this basis and pursuant to the Consumer Disaster Price Freeze Act, a price freeze is hereby declared. 

WHEREAS, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel virus that is the cause of severe acute respiratory illness. It was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) in December of 2019. As of February 26, 2020, 81,830 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in China and more than forty other countries have been reported. There have been 2,771 deaths attributable to the disease, including 56 outside mainland China. 

The Secretary of Finance has advised of a projected reduction in the estimated general fund resources for the current fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. In a communication to the Governor dated February 3, 2020 (SFL 2020-081), the Secretary of Finance reported a shortfall in revenue by 8% or $4,364,189 for the first quarter of FY2020. The Secretary further advised of the need to revise the annual revenue estimate for FY2020 by a reduction of 16.8% and budgetary resources by 25.3% for the remainder of the fiscal year. Subsequently, in a communication dated February 6, 2020 (SFL 2020-085), the Secretary of Finance informed the Governor that his department updated and revised the annual revenue estimates for FY2020 based on new data. The Secretary of Finance now reported the need to revise the annual revenue estimate for FY2020 by a reduction of 20.7% and budgetary resources by 28.3% for the remainder of the fiscal year.