THE administration’s plan to build a new executive office that will house other government offices is surely a good idea and long overdue considering the hundreds of thousands we pay in rental office space. The plan is surely a demonstration of foresight because the executive offices and the legislative building are both outdated and limited in space and their functional abilities. However, I would like to humbly and respectfully ask the administration to consider several facts before finalizing this plan.
• First and foremost is the fact that it is OUR (the people’s) Capitol that is being proposed to move to make room for investors. This is not the first time for an administration to “arbitrarily” make a decision that should be made by the people and I think it would be in the administration’s best interest to seek the support of the people before relocating “the people’s state Capitol.”
• The proposed move does not include the Legislature when what we need is a Commonwealth Capitol that will house all three branches of state government — executive, legislative and judiciary. There should also be a chamber that is capable of joint legislative meetings, state level meetings and speeches. IF we are going to build it, let’s do it right.
• Why do we have to move our Capitol when there is enough land on both sides of Isla Drive in the Tapochau area to accommodate the development of a new government building? It would really take away from the prestige of the people’s capital to move it down to Susupe were it will surely be exposed to potential storm surges and tsunamis that are sure to take place — we just don’t know when. There is also the traffic that will be created in a place were we can’t expand traffic control — just imagine 10 years from know what it would be like just to drive through Susupe with state offices — maybe 20 minutes one way if not more. We should learn the lessons Guam has learned about traffic on a small island; it’s very important for future development.
• The Capital Hill property is centrally located and some of the most valuable property on island for several reasons even though we are not even thinking about property value. If anything should be on Capital Hill, it’s the Capitol that should have the panoramic view of the islands that are being governed from the government building. There is tradition and symbolism on Capital Hill, which is why the area has that name and if the administration truly respects the traditions and prestige of its people then the Capitol should not be tampered with, as there are plenty of alternate locations in the same general area with great views of the island and the ocean.
I am not saying we should tell the investor “no,” like we did with previous investors. I’m saying that we must work with the investor to come to an agreement that will keep our Capitol in the same area and to make sure they are satisfied. There are also several privately owned areas on Capital Hill that may be appealing to the investors. We must do all we can to accommodate the investor but it shouldn’t mean we have to relocate our Capitol. One People, One Direction.

AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan