YOU heard about it, the minimum wage is going to take effect 60 days after the enactment of legislation in Washington. Take out your “soribang” Canda and begin adding because it’s a 50-cent increase then every six months thereafter 50-cent increases until the federal minimum wage is reached and I hope Washington is not planning to raise the minimum wage for the time being because we would not be able to catch up. But then who cares? We would all be DEAD and we won’t know right Canda? So let us all pool our resources together,a sit down and PLAN how we-are-going-to-survive. Okay Legislature and administration? This is no joke people.
Next, Canda’s ears are still ringing from hearing that, “WE HAVE BEEN BRANDED AS CRIMINALS”! I thought the Spaniards when they called our islands “Islas de los ladrones” was enough but no, no, no. Washington had to have its own branding too. Is history repeating itself?
Come on people, I heard way back, when a factory owner witness the conditions of the factories in California. He had the shock of his life and I haven’t seen him anymore. Believe me, “four walls but no roof.” Isn’t this insane? Ai adai, me and my English not doing me any help. Anyway here it goes. “Don’t do what I do, do what I say.” If this writing is going to get me in hot water, it won’t be any hotter than what the CNMI will be facing soon. There you go and I better stop here to put on my sapatos achikak for better tractions, running I meant.
Adios for now my beloved CNMI friends. Don’t say we have not been warned. For the record, there developed a similar proposal to increase the minimum wage for the CNMI. Where, where is it Canda? Come on Gonzalo, “It’s tucked away in our legislative hall of fame hide-a-way for safekeeping”! Okie, dokie Canda, gots you.

GONZALO Q. SANTOS
Capital Hill, Saipan