FIRST, the Ben and Tim administration is not to be blamed for the minimum wage issue. The governor publicly announced that he supports the increase on the minimum wage for the CNMI. And while he feels the CNMI would benefit some from the increase, he is closely assessing potential devastating effects against our citizen’s future and not only for workers. The governor is trying to make ends meet by removing non-essential expenses from past extravagant spending to keep the CNMI government afloat and he is being successful to date.
What is the number of your organization? 500? Aren’t you concerned at all, for the 30,000 plus non resident workers employment future?
I would like to direct your attention to Mr. Gerardo Butalid’s letter to the editor in Monday’s edition of the Marianas Variety. This gentleman knows what he is saying and he is not “selfish”; rather, he is thinking of the thousands and thousands of alien workers’ welfare in the CNMI, too. Of course, Mr. Butalid would like to see the minimum wage increased. But he is not as reckless as your organization’s demands for benefits regardless of the end results.
Why put in jeopardy the future of every non resident worker in your relentless pursuit for personal gain? If the businesses one by one fold and leave the CNMI, where would your brothers and sisters earn a living for their families back in the Philippines, China, India, Pakistan or Bangladesh?
The garment factories are all in limbo operating without substantial profits to continue employing workers. This is no different to the U.S. citizens in the CNMI who are the rightful workers facing the same dilemma of losing their jobs.
Take time out and think about it Mr. Dekada.
Gonzalo, is that Tan Candelaria on her knees praying? Yes, she is praying for a solution to everyone’s livelihood and future. Including Dekada? Yeah, that too.

GONZALO Q. SANTOS
Capitol Hill, Saipan