WE find ourselves in familiar and still unsettling economic instability in our community. There are many reasons for our present circumstances including those correctly attributed to the previous administration, but this is a new administration with the task of charting a new direction based on the challenges presented today, not yesterday.
No one envies the current administration’s task of balancing the delivery of public services in a rapidly shrinking economic base. The Governor must resist the internal pressure to restore pensions and salaries to previous levels and he must have full political and social support in this. While some advisors may offer assurances that government projections will meet the difference the facts just don’t support this claim.
As is the number of weekly flights to the CNMI is approximately 26 per week but in March that number is expected to decline by half, affecting tourism and the economy at large.
It is evident that we live in uncertain times where exposure to negative risks is high. In this environment even federal assistance cannot be relied on given President Trump’s own efforts to cut the federal budget and reverse various inflationary pressures on the national economy.
We all need Governor Palacios to succeed so let’s help him do that by giving him support where he needs it.
Sincerely,
JUAN S. TENORIO (Santiago)
Saipan, CNMI
