By Ambrose M. Bennett – Activist
THE Truth Be Told, being born during Segregation wishing I was white in HOPES of a Better Life, it was James Brown’s “I’m Black & I’m Proud” and Rev. Jessie Jackson’s “I Am Somebody” and “Keep Hope Alive” that changed my self-esteem attitude & my life for the better! It is clear the CNMI will face the Crossroads to “Keep-Hope-Alive or the Same-O TAYA Reforms” come November. Rep. Attao and the Speaker had plenty of opportunities to PROVE their worth to be our Executives, however there are virtually “No Reforms, No Oversights & No Plans” they can lay claim to, so who really wants this Same-O in the Governor’s Office. Ralph has allegedly “Robbed the CNMI & the Feds ruining the CNMI’s Reputation with Our-Fathers-In-Washington to the point they don’t trust the CNMI with Federal Funds and its Ralph’s own Republican Party taking this stance. So, who wants what seems to be the Same-O “unethical practices, nepotism & favoritism and no plans for Reforms.” However, HOPE is now very much Alive & Well with the new Independents in the Governor’s race, Dr. Lawrence & Senator Edith, which is an opportunity the People can’t afford to ignore & miss out on to CHANGE the CNMI for the BETTER, as the Same-O must DIE — TRUE Dat!
The Governor just PROVED the “UGLY Politics of the CNMI does exist in the Senate” with their rejection of James Sirok’s nomination. Just think, there was never a genuine explanation as to WHY he was rejected “WITHOUT CAUSE”, as no one should be nor wants to be fired “without a reason” — it’s just downright UGLY! The-Powers-that-Be (unknown HIDING & SILENT Senators) who dislike Mr. Sirok who is vocal on accountability rejecting him based on their PERSONAL dislike, instead of publicly explaining to the People they Work-For their decision on the MERITS — UGLY POLITIC! The Same-O lack of accountability in the Senate applies to the Mariana Eland Corporation’s Proposal to lease the Marianas Resort, as the rejection is based solely on “unknown opposition from some Local Residents” when the CNMI is a Democracy acting on the desires of the MAJORITY, and the actual justifications for rejecting the lease are not clear. Delaying a Public Process & the Lease is more ugly Politics denying progress! There is also no proof Mr. Sirok did a bad job and there is no factual justification against the Proposal for the Resort, just “double-poli-tricking-talk with TAYA-Progress” from the Senate President. Heck, it was the Senator Jude Hofschneider-led Senate who FREED Ralph in a “Kangaroo Trial” allowing him to implement the BOOST Program that even went unchecked by the House that included Rep. Attao & Led by Speaker Villagomez who were SILENT — the TRUTH!
However, it’s almost inevitable that voters will have to seriously consider Dr. Lawrence & Senator Edith, as they will be the “New-Kids-On-the-Block” for Governor and just at “first glance & thought” one must admit they represent real Qualifications & HOPE! I totally understand why they didn’t run as Democrats because the Party, not the Dem Candidates, is literally “Dead & Floating in the Ocean” needing new leadership BAD! Republicans have also changed their Title just to win & sit, so it would be “Poetic-Justice” to see Dr. Lawrence & Senator Edith using the GOP’s strategy to win the Executive Office — LOL! WE know they are Dems at heart just as the other Independents are Republicans but more importantly WE the People have HOPE and nothing to lose with Dr. Lawrence & Senator Edith given the “Same-O” is the only other option. WE, the Stewards (VOTERS), must “keep-Hope-Alive” come November because its Public Knowledge the other two sets of candidates for Governor & Lt. Governor only offer the Same-O. However, the Dr. & Senator offers real HOPE for the CNMI to become a Better Place to Live & Work – the TRUTH!
I’m sure the proof that Dr. Lawrence & Senator Edith being our Best-Hope will be coming forth, as WE the People have been waiting to hear “what the candidates Specifically PLAN-to-Do FOR the People & the CNMI” ever since the first filing of candidates for governor. They have only made “Bland & Broad Statements” that sound good followed by silence, as the lack of “SPECIFICITY” (the Oversights & Reform Ingredients) that are needed most to Fix/Reform the CNMI for the Better. The People are full of “Hope for CHANGE” and like everyone else I will be looking forward to the Dr.’s & Senator’s Platform, as the other candidates are “silent & only wanting to sit” but have yet to offer a Platform to the People they want to work for as Governor & Lt. Keep-Hope-Alive CNMI come November or it’s going to be the Same-O ugly politics, poli-tricks and TAYA Reforms — the TRUTH! One People One Direction to Keep-Hope-Alive & the American Dream FOR the CNMI!!!
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
