IF it’s good for the CNMI, it’s bad for Washington. I took particular interest to the remarks and reactions of the people interviewed by KSPN on the streets. A nonresident worker was not in support of the federal immigration takeover. She was afraid that the takeover will affect her continuous employment, and she is correct.
My CNMI friends, in my humble opinion, I would like to say that there is a hidden and disastrous effect to happen should federal immigration is implemented.
You know, I think Washington’s motive and objective are purely political. Why? Because alien workers will be “allowed” to gain citizenship from continuous employment in the CNMI. Our islands will be flooded with foreign workers (not that we are not already outnumbered) leaving our sons and daughters jobless.
Boy, think about inundating economic growth and a reversal of progress.
I learned that two residents from the CNMI were brought to testify at Washington’s expense, of course. And I am guessing that testimonies made were “repetitions” of abuses that had already been corrected in our government’s efforts against unscrupulous and ambitious Asian businesses. And I want to say that Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez clearly stated that the violators were arrested, prosecuted and convicted by our own court.
It seems that Washington officials were not willing to let our representatives present and elaborate issues about the economic situation in the CNMI. They have a prepared agenda and I think they only want to hear answers from questions they have prepared.
Of course, not all of our labor regulations are effective but sincere efforts are continuously being undertaken to put labor regulations into perspective. That is, by removing redundancies and putting more teeth into ineffective regulations.
I could only say that the abuses were the results of revisions and amendments creating more loopholes rendering the regulations inapplicable, if not unenforceable — a favorite of attorneys.
The CNMI minimum wage increase has been acted upon but shelved or placed on the list of “next-to-do” only to collect dust over the years and forgotten. Now everyone is scrambling and scratching their heads as each try their darn best how to address this situation and in astonishment ask, “Who pulled the rug”?
Tan Candelaria didn’t do it; we didn’t do it; you did it guys.
Easy Canda, don’t dump the whole thing on everyone, leave enough room for them to ponder, pasiensa na lang.
Aaaahhhh, gotta go inside! Anatahan volcano erupted again and the smell of sulfur is suffocating but not as bad as the choke-hold grip from Washington. Perhaps the CNMI can receive the same consideration as that of American Samoa, yes? Caramba! What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, no Canda?

GONZALO Q. SANTOS
Capital Hill, Saipan