I WOULD like to ask our governor, lt. governor and other elected leaders to please demand the U.S. Congress to respect our right to self-govern as called for in Section 102 of the Covenant or renegotiate our political status with the United States. There has been a pattern undertaken by the United States to control local governments and minimize indigenous local rights to self govern as called for in Section 103 of our Covenant agreement.
I firmly believe that the U.S. negotiators of the Covenant took advantage of the opportunity and deceived the NMI delegation when it basically stripped our rights by requesting to handle foreign affairs and defense issues. Who could blame the NMI delegation? Let’s face it; in the 70’s would there be anyone in the Marianas who could constitute as an expert in foreign affairs, defense issues or imagine that the United States would negate its agreement on bilateral negotiations before any federal regulation was implemented? Ironically, these are the same two issues that now come to haunt us.
Control of foreign affairs and defense/border control
What was the U.S. thought on foreign affairs? This is a very broad issue and how has the United States assisted in their efforts to improve CNMI foreign affairs. Would the United States efforts in assisting the CNMI on cracking down on illegal recruiters, constitute as a foreign affairs issue? Would easing trade restrictions on our garment exports constitute as a foreign affairs issue? Would direct assistance through negotiations creating economic partnerships with foreign countries constitute as foreign affairs issue? Would the creation of new potential manufacturing export and preferential treatment as other countries were given constitute as a foreign affairs issue?
Excuse me, but I am totally confused as to what exactly foreign affairs means. I was under the presumption that foreign affairs was the United States role in assisting the CNMI government strive economically through aid, market access, giving more control over economic and local policy, financing new development friendly technologies and assisting in the development of new markets.
Border control and homeland security
This year the United States allocated over $10 billion in border security and over 1 billion dollars to each state for homeland security funding. I have always read in various U.S. public law where a “state” is defined as a state of the United States to include it’s territories but out of curiosity can anyone in our homeland security or department of finance tell me if we were given 1 billion dollars for homeland security.
Did the CNMI and the other insular U.S. territories fail to meet the definition of “state” when it involves monies or in this case, $1 billion?
It’s interesting to note that the main reason for the federalization proposal was our local handling of immigration and labor was a threat to U.S. Homeland Security since the CNMI has no control on who can enter the CNMI.
Would it be fair to say that maybe the United States poses more of a threat to the CNMI and other U.S. insular territories for: 1) its failed U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, 2) for its lack of control of border issues, 3) for its lack to account for the 11 million illegal aliens living in the United States, 4) for its failed foreign policies and its failing mission in Iraq and 5) the growing resentment of Muslims and Arabs towards the United States 6) the declaration for all Arabs and Muslims to unite and the proclamation of Jihad against all Americans.
Flashback: Where exactly did 9/11 occur? Haven’t there been repeated acts of terrorism against the United States? How many terrorist acts were actually plotted in the CNMI or Guam against the United States?
Wouldn’t illegal smuggling fall under the United States Coast Guard border control similar to the duties they perform in the waters between Florida and Cuba? Was there really a collaborative effort between the United States to assist and work alongside the CNMI with problematic issues? Did the United States provide the same visual technical assistance when problems existed as they did with technical advisors in Vietnam and Iraq to physically provide assistance, training or make recommendations?
Maybe if we had collaborative and sincere efforts to correct problems, there would have been U.S. INS and U.S. Labor physically in place for a period a one year or two working alongside with our local labor and immigration counterparts overseeing things, developing ideas and making recommendations or correcting deficiencies.
But then again we have all these problems because the technical assistance that we probably received came from the failing U.S. INS system that needed to be overhauled or a different political agenda planned for the CNMI from overzealous U.S. congressmen. How can we succeed when the persons providing us with technical assistance were all given D’s and F’s by the United States Congress?
The United States plans to fund the INS and the U.S. Homeland Security over 10 billion dollars through Social Security funds to crack down on their illegal immigration problem. Under the proposed plan they will increase border patrol hiring of 2,000 people annually and provide them with night vision gear, vehicles, helicopters and essential items needed to crack down illegal immigration in the United States.
The Covenant is very ambiguous and this was evident in the case of the submerged land issue that the CNMI lost in federal court that Judge Munson presided over. In the submerge land issue, Judge Munson agreed with the CNMI that it was unclear who controlled the CNMI submerge lands since it was not mentioned in the terms of the Covenant.
The recent bill for the proposed minimum wage hike for the CNMI and the federalization of the local immigration and labor will be the start and end for the rights of local people of the CNMI. Under the United Nations agreement, all insular territories have the right to choose their form of government and have the right to self govern, but with Guam’s quest for commonwealth all but a history in the past, it’s evident that the United States never had any intention of locals exercising their right.
The right to govern exclusively belongs to “White American Citizens,” and if “You Are Not White, You Must Be Polite.” I say this because two of the criticism I received educating me about not cutting the hand that feeds us. Also to remember of the federal monies we receive in food stamp, federal education and etc. Flashback: “USDA Audit found PSS Food Nutrition Funds Used to Purchase Two Vans in Tinian.” Who is in charge of the PSS federal programs and did he report this “White Collar Crime” to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I’m sorry I was mistaken, I think there are two kinds of crimes: “White Color Crime” and “White Collar Crime.”
Former Sen. Angel Santos once said; “Here on Guam, the U.S. controls the lives of the people, dictates the operation of our local government, controls one third of the land, has jurisdiction over Guam’s 200 mile exclusive economic zone and allows the influx of immigrants into Guam to become U.S. citizens, making Chamorros minorities in their land.”
President Clinton refused to approve Guam’s commonwealth proposal due to four key provisions that Guam requested under their terms for commonwealth:
1. Legally binding the Congress or the executive branch to seek the consent of the commonwealth government before modifying the act creating the Guam Commonwealth, or before applying any future federal law, regulation or policy to Guam;
2. Providing for a legally binding, government-sponsored or endorsed vote on ultimate political status of Guam, in which only one group may participate to the exclusion of other U.S. citizens residents of Guam;
3. Transferring federal control over the adoption and enforcement of immigration and labor policies to the commonwealth; and,
4. Creating a joint commission under Guam’s control which would have the authority issue final determinations on the application of federal policies to Guam, or to determine military lands to be transferred to the commonwealth government.
Federalization of local immigration and labor
The federal proposal to control local immigration and labor and if passed would call for the “(A) orderly phasing out of nonresident contract worker program of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island; and (B) the orderly phasing in of federal responsibilities over immigration in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
What would be the effects of federalization of local wage, local labor and immigration?
Some locals may argue that federalization is a good thing but based on the federalization proposal, it would call for the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service to review eligible contract workers who could apply for resident status in the CNMI. How would this be beneficial to the local people of the CNMI?
If we allow this to happen we will soon be as former Sen. Angel Santos said; “The minorities in our island!” Federal control over who can become residents and the federal decision to utilize the CNMI as a temporary place to house refugees. Some will say this will never happen in the CNMI but remember Guam was used to process and temporarily house 250,000 Vietnamese refugees. During the Persian Gulf War, we saw Guam again used as a temporary place to house refugees from the Middle East. I ask our local citizens if this is what you want.
Minimum wage increase has stirred much controversy on island. We recently saw our local House of Representatives try to pass their own version to raise the minimum wage out of desperation. Everyone needs a pay raise but at what expense do we have to pay for such an increase. How can you enjoy a pay increase if there are no jobs or an ailing economy looming over your shoulders? How is increasing the minimum wage at a time of uncertainty in our economy a responsible thing? How will the local businesses on island absorb an increase especially those businesses that depend on government contracts or tourist based revenues?
The truth is that this proposed minimum wage will have a domino effect on both the private and government employees. Government revenue projections for fiscal year 2006-2007 probably had the revenue from Concorde garment and the other recent garment factory that announced their closure for March 2007 factored into their anticipated budget revenue projections.
Government revenue projections will determine the overall government budget for each government agency. Big businesses closing, minimal revenue collection and minimum wage increases are three equations that will result in serious job losses that will affect both private and government employees. Government employees must anticipate the worst and join the rally against any possible federal takeover and or federal minimum wage hike!
Incongruously, the United States Congress openly admitted repeatedly in session that the U.S. INS is a failed system in the United States with over 11 million illegal aliens and a system that needed to be overhauled. The 9/11 commission gave D and F ratings to President Bush’s administration for its handling of the events leading and surrounding 9/11. Flashback: Is this the same failed U.S. INS that will be handling the transition of local labor and immigration in the CNMI?”
Little by little our rights and the provisions guaranteed under the terms of the Covenant are being chipped away until we have no right to self govern. Has the United States really looked out for the best interest of its insular territories or its self interest? Flashback: Federal government providing federal financial assistance for golf course in American Samoa. Was this in the Department of the Interior’s Insular Report or was this supposed to be the place where the “U.S. Politricksters” go for there South Pacific retreat. If tourism in American Samoa was minimal, why did the federal government authorize millions for a golf course? This is a real…things that make you go hmmm!
While the Republic of Belau and the Federated States of Micronesia continue to receive millions in federal and foreign aid, wouldn’t it be worth exploring our options for another political status other than the one that has the federal government treating us worst than stepchildren. Flashback: We are second class citizens!
CNMI has committed acts contradictory to American values
What are American values? I cannot explain what American values are because I am just as confused as the next person is. I thought that American values was a right that everyone was created, and treated equal, that we had a free democratic system with laws in place, guaranteeing our civil rights and our pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
How can we be labeled as committing acts contradictory to American values when the U.S. Department of Labor reported that more than 75 percent of all U.S. garment factories are violating OSHA laws and are operating in sweatshop like conditions?
If American values are truly accepted openly then why did the Okinawa’s demand for the U.S. bases to pull out of their country. Why did the Republic of the Philippines refused to extend the base leases for Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base. Why are the Chamorros from Guam also requesting for control of their own immigration and labor authority as well as their right to self govern. Why has the United States refused to abide by the United Nations agreement and approve Guam’s commonwealth.
Advocates against sweatshop conditions fail to recognize the relative improvement in lives that these jobs created for these workers. Although I do not condone inhumane acts, I also cannot imagine thousands of guest workers from the CNMI going back to their country and having no real future or financial stability.
Many proponents argue and direct their concern over our CNMI minimum wage issue but ignore female workers in Haiti sewing NBA jerseys for .20 plus cents per jersey and the same NBA jersey being sold for over $180. Is this the American dream, and American tradition that we hold so dearly to our hearts? Or is this the American value that would represent “A Blue Light Special” at K-Mart.
We have advocates/victims of abuse testifying in Washington, D.C. about federalizing our local immigration and labor and the rampant abuses occurring. Everyone fails to realize the reforms that were made and the acknowledgement that the United States Congress made about these reforms during the past administration.
The CNMI can make the same case about the United States on some illegal alien committing heinous crimes of murder, rape, torture, armed robbery and etc. What’s even more appalling is that prior to these illegal immigrants committing these heinous crimes they were actually in police custody and released.
The same argument can be made about the poor working conditions, sexual harassment and crimes against female workers in U.S. factories. In my opinion, if the CNMI is being criticized about its poor record (prostitution, abortion, and etc.) with its guest worker program; the same case can be made against the United States and its citizens who are in partnership with other countries that violate human rights and continue to condone in humane actions and continue to give preferential trade agreements and wear these clothing.
It would be interesting to see the how many alien workers who would be against the United States efforts to federalize local immigration and labor if the United States made a proclamation that all workers would be sent home regardless of how long they worked and or resided in the CNMI.
It would also be interesting to see how many alien workers who would be for federalization if the United States made a proclamation that all alien workers would qualify for residency and green card if they spoke out against keeping the status quo of the CNMI retaining control over local labor and immigration.
In Bangladesh, the United States placed a ban on garment imports products from Bangladesh due the fact that 50,000 children were used. As a result of the United States action 10,000 of these children went back to school and the rest ended up doing odd jobs to include stone breaking and prostitution.
An Oxfam report in 2002 also conducted an investigation regarding sweatshop like conditions and found that despite the fact that most of these females working in garment export factories are not respected and not treated fairly, wages they earn are relatively far better than the villages they came from.
In 2001, a survey conducted by the University of Sussex and the Bangladesh Institute of Development studies surveyed 1,322 women workers of Dhaka and discovered that the average monthly income of workers in garment — export factories were 86 percent above that of other wage workers in the same slum neighborhoods.
After reviewing different countries and the population below the poverty level you can almost see that the Asian countries are economically stable. Japan is zero percent below poverty line, Taiwan .9 percent, China 10 percent, South Korea 15 percent, Thailand 10 percent, Malaysia 8 percent, South Korea 15 percent.
I urge the U.S. Congress and Senate to withdraw any drastic changes that will alter the terms of the Covenant. Any decisions that will adversely affect our economy and the livelihood of the people to include the guest workers and our right to self govern should be discussed mutually and through proper diplomacy. At this critical stage, the military future military build up in Guam has made the CNMI’s location a great significance strategically and economically to other countries should we choose to renegotiate our political status and opt for independence.
Former president and leader for the fight for Philippine independence, Manuel L. Quezon, once said, “I prefer a nation ruled like hell by Filipinos than one ruled like heaven by Americans.”
Economic prosperity cannot be realized because the United States has placed a cap on how much growth and development the CNMI can attain by placing many trade restrictions. The CNMI is being punished by the annual gross revenue of 1.5 billion dollars it made in 1996. It was shortly there after when we started to hear the U.S. Congress criticizing and threatening the CNMI with federalization.
It will be virtually impossible for the CNMI to survive on tourism. Based on Section 904 (b) of the Covenant, how many offices did the United States assist and facilitate within the U.S. and abroad to promote local tourism and other economic or cultural interest. Trade restrictions, anti-CNMI sentiments in the U.S. Congress, personal agenda’s, and U.S. Congress financial interest on big U.S. businesses; makes the economy of the CNMI similar to that of Farallon de Medinilla “The Bomb and a Shell Shocker.”
Many independent countries have strived and succeeded economically by establishing export partnerships and this included Vietnam with a U.S. embargo that lasted until 1994. Despite the embargo, Vietnam capitalized on exporting coffee, manufacturing products and agricultural products by establishing an export trade partner other than the United States.
Japan’s export totaled 500 billion dollars and is the largest and most diverse economy second to the U.S. The Philippines top export was electronic products which amounted to 65.2 percent of export earnings or about 2.5 billion dollars. Second, was garment manufacturing that amounted to 153 million dollars in export earnings.
In order for the CNMI to recover we need to invite Asian and European businesses and government officials to our island to evaluate our needs and ways to establish economic manufacturing export partnerships and a open dialogue for foreign direct investments with these Asian and European partners. We should also have an analysis done in our various economic opportunities by these Asian and European partners and develop strategies that would support our independence from the United States.
Direct foreign investments and manufacturing export partnerships will infuse much needed capital into our economy and provide for employment and better job opportunities for our local people.
There are many opportunities available for manufacturing export companies and vacant factories that will require little financial obligations on these potential businesses that are interested in establishing businesses in the CNMI. Parts of the land originally set aside for the U.S. military can be leased out to foreign countries that are interested in using the land training ground. Hawaii uses part of Schofield for the Singapore military for training. I’m sure that Farallon De Mendinilla can be leased for more than what the United States pays the CNMI… $20,000 plus.
All these independent Asian countries share economic progress and most of them share another thing in common and that is strict ownership of land to its people. Some people have been arguing that Article 12 land restriction to local people has been hindering economic progress, scaring away foreign investors and depreciating land value and I really don’t think that this is 100 percent accurate.
China’s real estate value is ranges from $107 per square meter to as high as $ 3,797 per square meter. According to an Asia Pacific Study released by Colliers International Hong Kong Office Space rental averages about $80 per square feet per year. Manila, New Delhi and Jakarta are about $15 per square feet and Makati varies from $306 per square meter to a high of over $1,000 per square meter.
Early days of independence in the United States barred and restricted against foreign ownership on U.S. land. In 1887, the federal Alien Property Act was enacted and in 1885 New Hampshire enacted a resolution that read: “American soil is for Americans, and should be exclusively owned and controlled by American citizens” (Wilkins, 1989, p 569). President Andrew Jackson also expressed anti-foreign feelings and was famous for vetoing the renewal of the federal government charter for the country’s second quasi-central bank (second) Bank of the USA which was predominately made up of foreign stock holders.
Made in the USA
I wanted to end by saying that the only thing that is actually 100 percent made in the USA is babies. We have been criticized for using cheap labor and taking advantage of the “Made in the USA” labels which have been totally contradictory to “American values.” The so called clothes that are made in the USA, are made in U.S. sweat shops and are partially made in other countries and then sent to the U.S. as a raw product and where they can finish the raw product by sewing on buttons and placing the “Made in the USA” label.
Many of you are wondering why there are so many flashbacks. The flashbacks were to compliment my friend Bruce Jorgensen in Pakistan who told me to embrace my Filipino heritage and former President Corazon Aquino. But like the ill-informed individual that I gave a class on Genealogy 101, I cannot do for my friend Bruce who should embrace the country he lives in that supports terrorist values and Jihad.
But in all fairness Bruce, I did try to check a couple of distant relatives to persuade them to embrace their Filipino heritage and the list included: From the Dominican Republic Greg Aquino (Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers), Danny, Jackson, Juan (Rookie Baseball Players), Luis (Puerto Rico), Brazilian Goal Keeper Macelo M. Aquino and Aldofo Aquino of Mexico but all attempts were unsuccessful.
Sayonara, Adios, Paalom, Kefel, Auf Wiedersehen!

DANNY AQUINO JR.
Susupe, Saipan