THERE is a growing concern for “local governments” to acquire more power over their municipality but it seems that our “state government” is reluctant to entertain their desires. Given there are more important things than the transfer of power but none the less this transformation must and will take place given the many lessons of these phenomena in America’s history.
With Saipan being the “capital” of the CNMI, there is a misconception by some that our Legislature and governor are in charge of Saipan but in reality they are in charge of the “entire commonwealth.” Just as the “chief executive” is the mayor on Tinian and Rota, so should the mayor on Saipan and the Northern Islands. The municipalities in these local districts elect their mayors and municipal councils to provide guidance, governance and protection thought their leadership and “local legislation.” On the mainland, this is a common phenomenon, as mayors and city councils or city boards literally run their municipality — not state officials. We have been slow to transfer power to these municipalities because it will be “pure power” and we know how hard it is to get people to give up and share power even though it is in the best interest of the people.
One of the reasons for our slow transformation is due to the small population, which didn’t warrant the distribution of power but as we come of age and the population is approaching 100,000 the demands for more control of the individual municipality are becoming more pronounced. Tinian and Rota already have special conditions that can warrant special laws but they are powerless and the Northern Islands aren’t given any attention while on Saipan the politics are so strong that the municipal council can’t even think about acquiring any power. But time and history has taught us that as the population increases so will the demands of the local municipalities to create and carry out their own “local laws or ordinances.” Logic also tells me that if there are “other things that are more important” than genuine concern should be shown to the transfer of duties and power to the local branch of government so we can get a lot more accomplished at the local level and the state level leaders can truly concentrate on the big picture of state issues and state laws.
We have already begun this transfer in part on Tinian and Rota where the mayors literally run these two islands, but the municipal councils are very limited in power. These municipalities should and do have the right to create “ordnances or laws” that are “specific” to their municipality. All the 50 state level governments have given mayors and municipal councils, board of supervisors, city councils and etc. the POWER to create laws and to carry them out — it’s only a matter of time for the CNMI. The only questions are who will proposed the legislation for the people, when, and what will it take to “force” this transition just like we are being “forced” to raise the wages. We have 18 representatives and nine Senators and it only takes one to have the foresight and vision to begin looking out for the “future” of the CNMI without being stuck in the moment.
On a federal note of federal vs. state, with all the attention on the wage and immigration, the quest for representation in the U.S. Congress was put on the “back burner.” However, if you really understand the “politics” of America, now is the best time to put the issue of “representation” before the U.S. Congress. If our delegation is truly putting ALL the cards on the table, then surely representation is our only Ace. The consensus in the CNMI that a wage hike is needed and the genuine need for a governance system to protect the economy in the form of a wage board to implement the wage hikes is a very compelling argument.
More compelling to the CNMI’s argument is that we (the people of the CNMI) are being subjected to the desires of the U.S. Congress without representation. Equal representation was a “paramount principle” in the founding of our government and principles don’t create lines of demarcation that would exclude the CNMI. Just as the CNMI must live up to the laws and principles of this nation, the federal government must live up to those same principles, especially, “equal representation for every U. S. citizen.” I truly believe that had the CNMI been represented in Congress that things might very well be a bit different because the lack of representation has been used as an excuse to create more separation and defiance. Being apart of the political process or any decision process makes a big difference, especially when it comes to compliance.
I believe the people of the CNMI can turn adversity into prosperity if we change our attitude so we can achieve some altitude. I’m also not trying to justify everything the federal government has or is doing because “our fathers in Washington” have been wrong on many occasions in history but I do know that whatever they decide in Washington we must get with the program or face the consequences. But if we are not willing to make the hard choices and do the right thing by getting with the federal program, then seeking a seat in Congress won’t do us any good because their word and power “won’t mean a thang,” as we say in Ebonics.

AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan