The Coalition for Recognition Equality and Advancement for Ethnic American Minority, or CREAM, now claims to have 1,200 members.
Danny Buniag, one of the CREAM founders, said the growing population of ethnic Americans in the CNMI who are usually children of guest workers from the Philippines, China, Korea and other Asian countries will soon allow them to field a legislative candidate.
He said the time is ripe for their group to groom their own future leaders who will help make the CNMI a better place for its people.
Buniag, who supported losing congressional candidate Joseph N. Camacho, claims that they can make local politicians win election.
CREAM members, Buniag said, have children who can participate in local politics not only as voters but candidates as well.
During the last gubernatorial election, 1,200 voters of Filipino descent cast their ballots, he added.
This, Buniag said, did not include the children of other Asian-Americans on island.
During the recent congressional delegate election, the number of “ethnic” voters grew significantly, according to Commonwealth Election Commissioner Robert Guerrero who noted that this group is likely to grow further.
Buniag said this group of voters might as well seek an elected government post instead of just supporting local candidates.
“Right now, we have Filipinos who are U.S. citizens and hold key positions in the CNMI executive branch,” said Buniag, who is one of the governor’s special assistants.
He said the members of their group and their adult children already have a grasp of how the CNMI government works and are ready to share the responsibility of addressing the islands’ economic challenges.
Buniag said children born in the CNMI tend to be more Americanized than their parents and are willing to be active in the community. {jcomments off}
