No matter what is said of the CNMI leadership and the deterioration of the local government, the one clear and very positive statement in the commonwealth’s defense has been that it is a safe and good environment to raise children.
It is gratifying to see that the public response to such an emergency is in keeping with the high value given to the care of society’s most vulnerable group: children.
It is our hope — it is the community’s hope — that the entry of federal investigators will supplement local search efforts, which have been tireless, and lead to the safe recovery of the girls soon.
Where were they?
MEMORIAL Day was commemorated recently at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi. The governor, the lt. governor, Speaker Eli Cabrera, Rep. Joe Palacios and Mayor Flores joined military officials and families of the veterans for the solemn and moving ceremony.
A lot of CNMI legislators call on the military to provide support for this community, they name streets in honor of fallen soldiers and lobby for a veterans cemetery in all the main islands, but they could not find the time to participate in the remembrance of those who died while serving their nation.
This is at the heart of what afflicts government leaders: a failure to recognize the hallmarks of social and political responsibility which includes showing up at important events.
Government as manpower placement agency
THE Department of Finance has announced that nonessential payroll will be delayed to accommodate payments to the utility and hospital. The current budget figure for FY 2012 is $110 million, but this is expected to be reduced once the new revenue projections are revealed. If government payroll is pegged at $4 million per pay period as reported by Finance then government payroll will account for $104 million of the $110 million budget. That leaves $6 million in paper money to pay for all others, which include medicine, bandages, diagnostic tests, maintenance contracts and other materials that allow government employees to actually deliver public services.
Instead of courting investors who still owe DPL a deposit on its original land lease application but are now promising to plunk down $3 billion to build a casino, 800 cottages and a golf course on Tinian — it might be worthwhile for municipal government officials there to consider how they could help the central government spend the $48 million in (real) CIP money that remains uncommitted. All the islands, most particularly Saipan, are in need of infrastructure upgrades. But public funds should not be spent on the Northern Islands and its nonexistent constituency. What little money there is should be put to use producing revenue for the community that produces the most, and that is Saipan. However, if Tinian and Rota officials can do more than just hire political supporters and express support for pie in the sky ventures, then there is a $48 million opportunity waiting for them.
