First of all, You call me a “runaway.” More like a “forced-away,” like everyone else, by what I saw as the writing on the wall, so to speak, of what was coming due to what you and your cronies were doing to the economy of the CNMI.
I knew that to stay in the CNMI with three young children, I wouldn’t be doing them any favors in terms of education, health and future employment. But, know this: I would love nothing more than to be back in Saipan. The economic situation created by the government of the CNMI makes that impossible. Maybe one day, when the CNMI actually starts electing its brightest and best, like Ed Propst, Tina Sablan or folks like Robert Hunter and Joe Ayuyu, that is the day when I return home.
You, Uncle Ben and your cronies keep harping about getting more money from the federal government and then on the other hand saying you aren‘t satisfied with the relationship as it has proceeded since the day the NMI PEOPLE voted to JOIN the USA.
What have you done with the monies already received? Not much, obviously. Name one time Uncle Sam spoke and you listened. Did you follow Uncle Sam’s advice to reduce the number of contract workers in the CNMI? NO, you didn’t. Willie had Froilan increasing the number of Chinese garment factory workers until they outnumbered locals and everyone else combined.
You and your cronies ignored Uncle Sam and gave guys like Willie Tan and his ilk free rein and now Homeland Security has a permanent office in the islands. Under Governor De Leon Guerrero Uncle Sam asked for an accounting of the money sent to the CNMI. You guys told The FEDS to take a hike and refused. It goes on and on. The CNMI’s political machine has acted like an unsupervised teenager with a no limit credit card since its inception. Did you follow YOUR part of the Covenant and agreement with the U.S. government? I think maybe that you haven’t even read it.
Let’s take a look at the CNMI government: You’ve lost control of immigration, lost control of the Labor (With over $6 million — maybe more? — in unpaid Labor claims), the Retirement Fund will be broke in a few short years making even more of the CNMI‘s people destitute, CUC is in disarray and it seems will never be fixed, CHC on all the islands is a mess, NMC has ceased to function as a higher learning entity and you’ve raided every other agency in the CNMI for funds to keep paying yourselves your radically high salaries. PSS is the only thing doing well, but that is only because you can’t touch the FEDERAL money going into their budget.
It seems that all you politicians on Capital Hill can do, is give yourselves raises and increases to your “Discretionary Funds,” while never submitting any real bills that make any sense or that might actually WORK.
Sadly, all these games are being played out while the local people are slowly being squeezed for every dollar they have and are losing their homes, businesses and fleeing the islands to the mainland for job opportunities, while you and your political buddies sit on your hands without a clue as to what to do next in order to bring the economy of the CNMI back to life.
The government of the CNMI, (that means you and your buddies on Capital Hill), knew well in advance that when the World Trade Organization eliminated tariffs on clothing, that it was a death knell for the CNMI Economy.
Did you start planning in advance for that day when the garment factories would leave the CNMI for good? NO, you didn’t. Did you look for ways to increase the numbers of tourists visiting the CNMI? NO, you cut MVA’s budget and then decided to further tax the very same tourists that you prayed would save the economy of the CNMI. Have any of you on Capital Hill done anything to save or help the CNMI’s economy? NO, again, all you have done is increase your take from the CNMI’s coffers.
You mention how reevaluating relationships is a good thing. Maybe we should reevaluate our relationship with you. Or better yet, how about reevaluating yourself first and then all your fellow politicians. Are you actually doing the CNMI any good by staying in office? As the saying goes “What have you done for me lately?” What have you actually done for the CNMI lately? What have you done while in office that has actually worked and improved the economy or lives of people in the CNMI? Are you honestly earning your paycheck?
There is a “brain drain” going on in the CNMI, and slowly, but surely, all the brightest and best of the CNMI will leave, because even though it breaks their hearts to leave the islands they call home, their government is not loving them back by doing ALL it can to make the CNMI a place where they can live and prosper.
It is heartbreaking to read the news from Saipan every day and chat with friends about the latest irresponsible act(s) by a government that is slowly losing its mind. I feel sad for all my friends still in the islands having to endure the pain of seeing their home, one of the most beautiful places on Earth, being destroyed by those who are supposed to be building and saving it.
The people of the CNMI deserve better!
As for the “help” the CNMI has received of the “past few years,” I believe the Covenant became fully effective in November of 1986; that’s more than 25 years of money and advice given to the CNMI to build roads and infrastructure and a working power plant. Those monies were wasted on cars, junkets, nepotistic hiring’s and inflated salaries of government employees.
And, yes, “your well-being and happiness” DOES, in most cases, “depend on the color of your passport.” Why else would most people in the world do just about ANYTHING to get one the same color as yours?
Changing your political relationship or status doesn’t change the fact that you and your political buddies have created the mess that is now the CNMI. Uncle Sam is not to blame, the haoles/statesiders aren’t to blame, the contract workers aren’t to blame either. Who has been in charge these last 20 years? It all comes back to you and your political gangs. You guys don’t even have the common sense to be ashamed for what you have created. It’s like crashing your car into a tree and you start yelling at the tree, blaming it for your accident. Who was driving the car? YOU!
Do you feel you have earned your salary all these years Mr. Torres? You mention “rolling up your sleeves and working to improve a place,” “being honest with yourself,” “getting input from the citizenry” — I hope you didn’t mean yourself; you and most of your buddies haven’t done any of those things while in office. You do what you want and ignore the voices of the people.
What do you mean by “a different political relationship might be recommended”? Do you have some other country in mind for the CNMI to align itself with? Is it one that has no problem giving bribes? Or is it one that has promised to make you “King of the Marianas”? Inquiring minds want to know! Let us know, so we know what language to order from Rosetta Stone when you become King!
Like it or not, I am one of the voices of the people. As one of the people, I have the right to call you to task for your failings; you are an elected official after all. If you feel that is “griping“ that is your opinion. I call it holding you accountable for the political and economical atrocities you have committed against the people of the CNMI.
Try giving me and the people of the CNMI a reason NOT to gripe about your political behavior Mr. Torres by actually DOING something FOR the people of the CNMI and helping its dying economy.
Frankly though, Mr. Torres, I think you and your buddies have been a very bad investment for the CNMI.
The people of the CNMI should ask you, Uncle Ben and all your inept and corrupt buddies, who have been financially, economically and politically raping the CNMI these past 26 years, for their money back.
Like I said, sadly, Third World countries are run better than the CNMI.
It’s time to start acting like a man and stop blaming Uncle Sam and everyone else for the CNMI’s problems and looking elsewhere for a magical cure to the CNMI’s ills and acknowledge and accept your responsibility for your part in creating this mess and start working to find solutions — that IS your job after all.
PAUL BEEBE
Spokane, Washington
A concerned Former Saipan
Resident
