“The CNMI government appears to be bankrupt, with its collection dipping down by almost 50 percent from what it was 10 years ago. These days are very trying times indeed, and our leaders need to wake up from their sleep to rise to the extraordinary challenges facing the commonwealth,” said Dela Cruz, the islands’ first chief justice, in his speech during yesterday’s Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt.
“Unless the government and our leaders come up with realistic solutions to the economic woes, the commonwealth may soon find itself in a lifeboat — an extremely embarrassing situation,” Dela Cruz said.
The government, he added, sometimes does not even have an idea on how to develop the economy.
Dela Cruz said he believes the CNMI leaders have to sit down and draft a written vision of the commonwealth’s goals regarding the economy and governance.
At this point, he added, the CNMI should have already learned how to develop its economy, but this has yet to happen.
“Our economy has taken a dive for more than a decade now, and we have not done a commendable job at governing ourselves,” he said.
A healthy economy that generates revenues needed by the government to provide essential public service is what the CNMI needs, he added.
“Without a healthy economy, self-government is doomed to fail. Our leaders must address and fix the economy if we are to succeed in governing ourselves,” Dela Cruz said.
The former chief justice recently launched his new book, “From Colonialism to Self-Government: The Northern Marianas Experience.”
Dela Cruz said he was encouraged to write the book to preserve his recollections.
Copies of the book are available at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library in Susupe. The price is $21.95. For more information, call 235-(READ) 7323.
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