THIRTY years ago today, Variety warned its readers to “brace” for Wilda, a typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour and gusts up to 175 mph. Wilda was expected to pass 30 miles to the north-northwest of Saipan. Fortunately for all of us, Wilda stalled 110 miles east-northeast of Saipan, and slowly weakened.
Two days later, Variety quoted CUC as saying that power would be restored soon. It was also reported that an MHS student and a beautician in San Jose were injured after the ceiling of a beauty salon “crashed” on them. The beautician sustained an eight-stitch wound in his right hand while the teenager — the grandson of the beauty salon’s owner — “suffered from a 12-stitch wound in the left side of his face.”
For many island residents, however, Wilda’s biggest casualty was the Ship-Ashore restaurant and karaoke bar at the Garapan Fishing Base. It was literally a ship that was ashore, and it was one of the island’s popular night spots. Its owner, Jack Little, was known as the “Elvis Presley of Saipan” — he dressed like the King, and could sing, too.
It was my first typhoon on Saipan. What made it worse was that a week later, another typhoon barreled its way to the Marianas — Zelda. Quoting the Emergency Management Office, Variety reported that Zelda “brushed by much closer to Saipan, as close as 20 statute miles.” However, Wilda and Zelda were “banana typhoons” compared to Soudelor (2015) and Yutu (2018), both of which plowed into Saipan.
Thirty years ago, in any case, the CNMI was far more prosperous than it is now. Tourist arrivals increased each month, the population was growing, and a flourishing garment industry still existed. Of course, there were also a lot of problems back then, but they did not include a sputtering economy, an exodus of local residents, worried retirees, “high” power rates, business closures, payless paydays, and a government whose existence was hand-to-mouth.
Among the news stories back then were the hiring of 12 additional doctors by the Commonwealth Health Center, and the $71.6 million (worth about $152 million today) in unspent federal CIP funds.
Back then, moreover, many legitimate investors, mostly Japanese, were still eager to do business in the CNMI. But one of them told Variety that the Commonwealth should “do away” with red tape, and create “a centralized office for all the needed permits [to] avoid unnecessary delays….” Variety noted that the “government has long been aware of the problem caused by the numerous procedures that have to be followed before a permit can be issued.” That was in 1994. Thirty years later, we’re still talking about the need for a “one-stop shop” for prospective investors.
Also in the news 30 years ago: the Saipan mayor’s office encouraged residents to clean up the island; plant trees, shrubs and flowers; and remove abandoned vehicles and large appliances from public areas. The then-mayor also lauded the Saipan Chamber of Commerce for scheduling several activities as part of its campaign called, “Keep our Islands Clean and Green,” which included a mascot, “Tidy Turtle,” and an islandwide cleanup.
On Capital Hill, amid talks of tax reform, a Saipan senator made it to Variety’s frontpage by proposing an end to tax rebates. “I can guarantee you…we can see additional revenues of $20 million [worth $42 million today], maybe more….” He correctly noted that additional taxes on businesses would only be passed on to the consumers. In any case, he said he had been “talking to a lot of people who are willing to give up their rebates if only government will be more responsible in spending money for [projects] that benefit them in return.”
But there’s the rub. Then, as now, more money for the government will only result in increased spending on personnel and other nonessential, yet popular, items. As the senator himself said, “We continue seeing highly paid government employees that are always rising in number.”
In an editorial, Variety described as “unthinkable” the then-governor’s decision to discontinue his weekly press conferences. Ah, those were the days. Many government agencies had public information officers, who actually provided information to the public on a regular basis. DPS conducted a daily press briefing. It was the then-governor, Froilan “Lang” Tenorio, who signed the Open Government Act. And no, he didn’t cancel his weekly press conferences. Instead, they became daily briefings, some of which were held in the parking lot of the administration building on Capital Hill at lunch time. He was also available to reporters at the many public events held in those days: ribbon-cutting ceremonies, proclamation signings, receptions for visiting dignitaries, etc. His public information office was staffed with experienced former reporters, who could dash off a statement to the media or a press release at a moment’s notice.
But then again, in those days the CNMI still had a booming economy.
As I write this, the governor doesn’t have a PIO or a press secretary, as far as we know, and nobody seems to care…or notice.
Anyway, what could the leadership tell the media today that they haven’t said before?
“Pivot.”
“Geopolitics.”
“Military.”
“Austerity.”
“We’ve been in politics and government for a long time, and we’ve been in charge for nearly two years now. But don’t blame us. It’s not our fault — it’s never our fault.”
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