Seven years ago, an OPA study stated that although there was an additional cost if nurses were hired directly, it would also improve the hospital’s capacity to retain qualified nurses, resulting in lower turnovers and improved patient care.
But the government is still hiring nurses through an employment agency, which it then failed to pay. Quite rightly, the nurses on Rota have refused to resume their duties, fearing nonpayment and legal liability for their trouble. So now, the people of Rota are at risk of receiving poor treatment or worse — but they have a gaming commission for a non-existent industry. On Tinian, the officials are hoping that their indirectly hired nurses are more patient than their Rota counterparts. Meanwhile, Rota and Tinian are asking the cash-strapped central government to pay the nurses’ salaries.
Hoping and begging — the CNMI officials’ response to a serious healthcare crisis.
Lawmakers, for their part, are understandably more worried about the salaries of voters. No one among them believes it is essential to have some 4,000 government employees to provide essential services. And everyone knows that fat should be cut in order, for example, to retain an adequate number of nurses for Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Not a single lawmaker, however, has offered a detailed and specific cost-cutting plan.
Austerity Fridays, to be sure, are not the long-term answer. This plan may satisfy the immediate cash flow problem but does nothing to advance healthcare, promote tourism or protect the public from the rising tide of crime. Where are the results of the government desk audit that the administration promised more than four years ago?
Criminals cause crimes
BURGLARIES occur every day, not all of them are reported, and none of the victims hold out hope for recovery of property or the apprehension of the perpetrators. It is also deeply distressing that the third suspect in the Kagman kidnap-rape case has not been arrested a month after the incident.
The “theory” that these crimes are caused by a depressed economy has already been debunked in the states.
(See, for example, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703580904574638024055735590.html) Not all jobless people burglarize their neighbors’ houses. Not all poor folks are committing acts of lawlessness. No. People commit crimes because they are criminals who think they can get away with it. Hence, the most effective way of dealing with criminality is enforcing the rule of law though better policing and a community more involved in ensuring public safety.
Organizations like Neighborhood Watch and Crime Stoppers should receive a great deal of support and cooperation from the community because that is where prevention begins. The concept of neighbors looking out for neighbors for the purpose of keeping the community safe is an old and honored practice everywhere. It is the mark of a community that places a value on the common good.
Some bright spots
REJUVENATED by an energetic management and crew, the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library is alive with activity: children and adults reading books, enjoying a DVD, keying computers, using the facilities and upgraded equipment. The library has become a living space for eager visitors who seek recreation and information in a quiet, safe and interesting environment. This is a real plus for the community.
Other groups deserving of special mention are the Neighborhood Watch and Crime Stoppers both of which dedicate time to make the community safer by encouraging vigilance and cultivating cooperation. This is a positive development that would be enhanced if law enforcement is depoliticized and provided the tools necessary to fight crime.
