By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

Squeezing water from a rock

EIGHT years ago, those in the know believed that the CNMI government budget hovered around $163 million, which is the figure the administration’s budget officer has come out with now. Finally, a realistic number from the CNMI government. There will still be a shortfall, however, and taxpayers must now brace for the measures that the governor and his allies in the Legislature will propose to raise additional revenue. They will either reduce your rebates or raise fees for services. Both are tax hikes and the fiscal equivalent of squeezing water from a rock. The end result is that the people will pay more for less.
The only solution to the CNMI’s nine-year-old economic slump is the entry of new investments. This governor squeaked into office mostly due to the belief that his private sector experience was a good start on the way to rebuilding the economy. Investors, he told the public, were waiting in the wings. Another investor conference was held, paid for and sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior, but not one disclosure about which investors attended the conference, whether there have been any follow-ups by any of the “interested investors,” or whether any new investment is possible under our current circumstances.
It is no longer clear to anyone what the administration is doing to improve the economy. It has been suggested that the administration hopes to introduce casinos on Saipan as the solution to the CNMI’s financial straits. Hence, the “strategy” is to drive the economy into the ground and pave the way for casinos. But this seems too diabolical a plan even for local politics.

NMI needs change

AS the community grapples with an ever worsening economy, government officials continue to discharge their duties seemingly oblivious of the enormous changes that are about to occur. New, solid investors are required, but why will they do business in a place where so many systemic problems are left unresolved?
There is a government bureaucracy that is mostly run by inexperienced or unqualified employees — there are notable exceptions to be sure, but by and large, these folks are mostly concerned with keeping their jobs and not with doing them well. This makes it difficult for investors to get work done quickly and efficiently, which is a pre-requisite for a good economy.
Transparency is lacking at almost every level of government, and officials believe that putting up Web sites is enough.
Then there is the all important human resources and capacity component of society that hasn’t been cultivated for so many years. PSS is in serious need of a makeover. This is arguably the most important agency of the government, and yet it gets the least amount of attention while getting a lion’s share of the budget. This must change. PSS affects the overall health of the community and its officials must be held accountable for failing to do their jobs.

On a positive note

THE costly and dangerous antics of the copper thieves appear to be at an end now that federal investigators have stepped into a not-so complicated case. As an official of a local recycling center has noted,there is no market for copper wire and other scrap materials on island. DPS should have guessed where the thieves were selling copper wire.
Now that culprits and their accomplices have been arrested, it is time for DPS and the CNMI-Chinese Association to get together and encourage better conduct among association members. The immigrant business community has to be reminded that it must adjust to its new environment, where the most important rule is that everyone must follow the rules.