THE TRUTH of the matter is the “scatter-brain approach to rebuilding our Economy” that I wrote about was not just supposition but indeed FACT! The Governor wanted to focus on Japan but it seems the GOP that are left is taking the lead when they (Ralph & Crew) were the ones who killed our Economy. I figuratively wouldn’t follow Jude Hofschneider across the street, as I don’t trust him any further than I can see him. This is the same guy who conducted a Kangaroo Trial in the Senate and now he has convinced our legislature to go against the Governor’s goal of re-establishing the Japanese as our primary tourists — scatter-brain! The GOP is still alive and well working against Arnold for his departure from the Party. So, pay attention citizens of the CNMI, as our leaders are fighting among themselves and WE are caught in the middle.
I can remember warning the CWs “don’t go crying to the Feds about the conditions they face in the CNMI because I KNEW the Feds were NOT going to play around and what did they do — they took over immigrations and required all CWs to leave by 2029. Hofschneider has the CNMI crying foul with the B-1/B-2 Visa Requirement and saying the CNMI should try an “end-run” around the Feds using the Consolidated Naturai Resource Act of 2008. We should have used the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program or EVS-TAP THEN, not now. Assuming the EVS-TAP will satisfy the U.S. Congress today is a big leap of faith that easily backfire to the “diplomacy that is being practiced by Our-fathers-in-Washington. The CNMI is flirting with disaster trying to get the Chinese tourists to be our primary tourists base, especially when the politics of Our-fathers-in-Washington (Republicans & Democrats) are AGAINST China. The Feds KNOW the Chinese are now using the CNMI to get into the United States. Chinese babies at the Airport under the stairs, smuggling Chinese into Guam and the list goes that will anger the U. S. lawmakers. One of the first things that will be asked by the Feds is “what is the CNMI doing to bring back the Japanese Tourists who is America’s ally” and the answer will be NOTHING! The funny thing for me is the CNMI has NO Chinese Tourist Sites. 902 should be about funding relief for our businesses & Diplomacy with Japan.
No consideration has even been given to the fact that the Chinese Government has already said they are NOT going to allow their citizens to come to the CNMI to gamble. So, is Hofschneider or WHO is going to GUARANTEE the Chinese Government is even going to go along with the EVS-TAP proposed by Senator Hofschneider? We don’t even know if the Chinese Government is going to let their citizen come and yet there is this plea to put all of our eggs in China’s basket that offends the Japanese. Being an Economist & Sociologist, I knew when Ralph was still in office that “THIS-DAY” of Economic turmoil was imminent, especially when Ralph was only catering to his Poetical-Emissaries, his Family, the Chinese & South Koreans as it’s a fact Ralph was NOT investing in maintaining our Economic base.
Covid offered the CNMI the great opportunity to “reset our economic base” but that didn’t happen and instead hundreds of millions in stimulus funds were wasted on BS promotions instead of doing things to set the CNMI up for success post-Covid. But that’s spilled milk and now that desperate times have arrived too many are resorting to the desperate measure of China AGAIN like they did with the Casino that could also indeed be the death of our Economy just like the Casino died, EVS-TAP is a gamble and WE will lose AGAIN messing with China! The CNMI would be far better-off using the 902-Talks for “Diplomatic Efforts” to talk with the Japanese Government for their help with getting their citizens to return to the CNMI. Yes, the Japanese economy is not so good, but that is not our biggest challenge, as much of their middle & upper classes can still afford to come but WE are still yelling and pleading for the Chinese, which is counter-productive to getting the Japanese to return. When will they learn this High School Social Studies lesson??? If the CNMI continues down this road to China and is successful with implementing the outdated EVS-TAP don’t expect the Chinese Government to comply and don’t expect the Japanese to ever return in numbers. Sometimes WE just have to CHOOSE, which is something we are taught as children when we want more than one thing and can only get or have one! WE will never have Chinese & Japanese coming to the CNMI in numbers at the same time, so choose wisely and move on, it’s just that simple.
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
