The governor has had control of CUC for over three years and where are we now? There is still no money for fuel, parts or for repair work on the systems.
So what is the answer, privatization? But not the way the government wants to do it. I want the residents of Saipan to form a co-op utility and buy CUC from the government. This is not an easy thing to do. The residents of Saipan will have to get behind it and support it. Once the co-op is formed all the residents will be able to buy shares in the co-op. The share money will be used to purchase CUC and for operating capital. When we get it back on its feet and making money we will be able to pay quarterly dividend on the shares. The good thing is that all the money will stay here on Saipan. We will not be making some foreign company rich.
I know that a lot of people say that we do not have the expertise here on the island to do it. Well, I worked for CUC for over 13 years and I say that we do have the expertise. If we look at the entire population of the island and not at just one political party we can do it.
Well, this is a decision that you the residents of Saipan must decide. Do you want to keep going the way you are paying high utility bill or making some foreign company rich or do you want to stand up and take control of your lives and make this a better place to live.
Think it over, whoever controls the power controls the island.
I do not know about the rest of you but I am sick and tired of hearing the governor crying that they do not have any money. I may be simple minded but if I was short of money and I had hundreds of millions of dollars just lying on the ground I would be selling it and using the money to fix up the mess we are in. I am talking about the volcanic ash on Pagan. The ash from that volcano lying on the ground on pagan is worth millions of dollars. Would someone please tell me why we are not selling it and using the money to settle the government debts on Saipan? Would you please ask your elected representatives what are they doing?
I will be putting out another letter the first part of July. I hope by then we will have some answers from the lawmakers.
As usual I must make it clear that the ideas that I am putting forward are mine and mine alone.
FREDERICK A. PROSSER
As Matuis, Saipan
