By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

Not again

CUC does not tire of repeating mistakes. It turned the 120-megawatt power plant project into a horrible mess. It increased power rates despite inadequate justification and inadequate public hearings. And now, once again, it is about to get into another procurement nightmare.
We are referring to the privatization of its power generation whose RFP is likely to be abysmal because it is generated in-house and by hand-picked power advisors. The better power producers will not respond, knowing that this is one more procurement in a string of procurements that will go bad because the RFP is not an independently generated work product.
As long as this kind of practice continues, the CNMI cannot advance beyond the feudal-like practices its leaders have adopted

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DPS personnel shifts

THERE is an uproar within the ranks of the Department of Public Safety regarding the standing of various officials including allegations of misdeeds, retaliation and political promotions. The commissioner needs to provide more details regarding these personnel shifts, and come clean regarding the findings of all investigations that have been made regarding her recent appointees.
In most jurisdictions, independent, third-parties are called in to conduct these types of investigations, and since federal investigative officials are here, why not request another assist.

Republic of the NMI?

THE Senate hearings in Washington, D.C., seem anti-climatic. Only four of the committee members were in attendance as a parade of witnesses, including religious and social service representatives, testified in favor of federal intervention.
Many people in the community believe that a takeover is inevitable and appear to be, at best, indifferent about the issue, but the administration has indicated that it would, a la General Custer, make a Last Stand, which could include a demand for a renegotiation of the CNMI’s political status, which includes independence.
It is a good idea for the commonwealth’s leaders to recall Custer’s fate and ensure that the public is ready to opt for independence before they commit the islands’ U.S. citizens to this folly.

Wrong signal

MEMBERS of community are looking for leadership that acts in the public interest. There has been little evidence of this for quite some time, and it shows in the discontent that has been building up these past few years.
And so, while the economy free-falls and government officials continue to travel and austerity exemptions for top ranked officials are approved at the expense of austerity for rank and file, the people are still waiting for any sign that the three branches of their government are serious about cost-cutting measures.
The number of top ranked executives exempted from austerity measures should be reduced further. There is no reason for the government to continue buying vehicles and hiring mostly non-essential employees while cutting the work hours and pay of many, many government employees.
That is the wrong signal to send. It must end.

High price

IN recent weeks, PSS officials have released many details describingtheir progress, federal dollars for projects and the reduced water consumption of schools.
Absent from the stream of information coming from the third-floor of the Retirement Fund building are questions about why procurement issues persist, and why inexperienced and unqualified individuals continue to be hired for important jobs. Moreover, complaints about the pace and quality of work generated by the human resources office continue, which is why the public should watch very closely the selection of the new associate commissioner for administration.
Clearly, the elected Board of Education members made a big mistake in limiting the field of commissioner candidates. PSS and the community are now paying a high price for that unfortunate decision.
The differences that developed over the selection of the commissioner are still there, affecting day-to-day management of the school system, stifling discourse, creating conflict and shifting focus away from important issues like hiring and keeping highly qualified people, improving student achievement, and implementing operational changes that assure regulatory and statutory compliance.
But this November, voters can help address these problems. Three BOE seats are up for grabs, and voters sincerely interested in improving the quality of education in the CNMI should consider their choices carefully. Nothing less than the future of the CNMI is at stake.