I AM saddened but understand the party (political) decision that led Delegates Madeleine Z. Bordallo of Guam, Donna M. Christensen of the Virgin Islands and Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa to support H.R. 2, that imposes federal minimum wage increase on the entire country and unfortunately on the CNMI, as well. I am further saddened that the American Samoan community is being raked over the coals in this argument over the partisan tiff that exists in the D.C. establishment.
Everyone that was arguing the point from the CNMI, about the lack of inclusion of American Samoa in H.R.2, was hopefully doing so to point out the obvious impact this bill would have on their very fragile tuna industry and economy. It was also to point out to the political pundits, Congressman Faleomavaega included, that there is another insular territory, the CNMI, that needed some reprieve from a wage scale that will, in the short term, extend a great blow to its already ailing economy.
Minimum wage should progressively move forward — we need at least five years of measured increases to see the transformation of our market base economy with an apparel industry that is seriously paring down. I don’t believe for a moment that we should continue to be complacent. I personally believe we should start the hard work today of 1) appointing the member body of our local/federal wage review board; 2) begin discussions about raising the wages over the first year; 3) studying the impact of future wage increases; 4) negotiating bilateral discussions with countries that require benefits for their citizen workers; and lastly;, 5) setting our own progressive wage scale increases.
It is my hope the good congressman from American Samoa, Eni Faleomavaega, and all of our insular area brethren, will now step up and support our cause, as I believe we need to continue to support theirs, whatever the issues of the day may be.

ALEX A. SABLAN
Kagman II, Saipan