JUST two weeks ago, two of my granddaughters — both good students at Tinian Jr. High School — participated in a car wash to raise funds so they could travel to Saipan for a “Young Writers” workshop. Carmen and I were both very proud of them, of course. I remember they came up to the house afterwards, their faces sunburned, but satisfied that they had done their part to earn their educational trip. They were crushed to be told at the last minute that there were “insufficient funds” for the trip, and it was cancelled.
Now, thanks to the diligence of Marianas Variety reporter Moneth Deposa, we learn that the Tinian elected officials and their legal council just took a weeklong junket to Bangkok and Manila, supposedly looking for Noni investors. Even one of those airline tickets would have paid for all the “Young Writers” of Tinian to attend their workshop in Saipan. This total disregard for priorities and wasteful spending of public funds on travel is comparable to the old Marianas Public Lands Authority Board of Directors. They should be ashamed to show their face in public when they return.
Looking for noni buyers is ridiculous when we already have two major investors just waiting for the Tinian elected officials to do their job of getting the Tinian West Field International Airport fully operational. Two companies have paid their licensing fees, acquired their lands, and conducted their ground breaking ceremonies. As I write, the materials have arrived on island for the completion of the needed taxiway for arriving jet aircraft. However, they are not going to get aggressive about building their hotels and golf course until the airport is fully functional and they can depend on a continuous supply of visitors.
Unfortunately, in the two years they have been in office, our traveling elected officials have not been able to deal with the issues related with completing the airport facilities necessary to allow jet aircraft to land.
They have not been able to do the paperwork necessary to acquire the needed instrument landing system, the required movement of the dump, and the installation of the airport fuel delivery system. Yet, they travel seeking the company of other Noni-heads.
There are only two months remaining before the general election. The Tinian elected officials have never passed a legitimate budget for the Tinian Municipal Funds. They have two months left to create a real budget, identifying specific expenditures for FY 2008.
They have never conducted a legitimate public budget hearing. They have two months to call a properly announced public hearing on their proposed budget, hand out copies of their final, detailed, expenditure reports — which are mandated by the Amended Gaming Control Act — and allow the public to comment publicly on their proposed budget.
If the incumbent Tinian elected officials can not face the public with the truth about their travel expenditures and give the voting public a concrete spending plan for next year, then they should face the same fate as did MPLA.

DON A. FARRELL
Marpo Heights, Tinian