By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

AS things teeter on the edge, the Coastal Resources Management Office pursues small boat and canoe owners lined up along Saipan’s west coast. Most agree that because these boats are not a nuisance and add color and texture to our coastline, the Fitial administration should drop this silly use of government resources. It should instead pursue with equal diligence a way to end wasteful spending in the government, including at CUC.
Now that the governor is back, maybe he will notify CRMO that it can pick up trash along the Susupe-Chalan Kanoa shoreline or investigate illegal tree cutting and tree burning activities that are also occurring along this coastal strip

It all goes back to leadership
THE workforce investment conference that took place a few weeks ago discussed, among other things, whether the Public School System provides the essentials to build a local talent pool of skilled, technical and professional resources.
The answer, sadly, is no. The standards-based approach introduced by the outgoing commissioner was a step in the right direction, with student testing and Praxis tests for teachers at the core of these changes, but much more needs to be done.
Unfortunately, the current public school leadership continues to perpetuate bad practices. It stifles public discussion on needed changes, promotes unqualified personnel, hires inexperienced administrators for important programs and operations, and has adopted the poor procurement practices of its predecessors.
This current PSS administration makes a mockery of transparency and heaps many different and conflicting duties on a few trusted staff. It prefers to spend time securing its own future by concentrating power in the hands of a few, instead of eliminating barriers to learning or actively promoting successful learning, teaching and administration techniques.
So how can the CNMI address its labor and employment issues if its children are not properly served by their public education system?