BECAUSE of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it triggered, the year 2020 is the worst year ever for many people around the world.
With the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine in the CNMI, members of the community interviewed by this reporter are hopeful that 2021 will be a much better year.
House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan, right, asks a question during a meeting of the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding on Tuesday. Also in photo is Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
“We have suffered enough,” House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan said. “I am hopeful for 2021.”
Outgoing Vice Speaker Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero said due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, the government had to cut its annual budget by 50%, resulting in furloughs and deep spending cuts.
Moreover, he said, many businesses have shut down and hundreds if not thousands of workers have lost their jobs.
The CNMI is fortunate to be part of the U.S., he added. “It is our federal government that has provided us much needed financial assistance,” he said.
“Because of these challenges we have learned a lot,” Deleon Guerrero said.
He encourages the incoming members of the 22nd Legislature to prevent further devastation of the CNMI economy and the people’s livelihood.
Good things
But there are some good things that happened in 2020 for which people should be thankful.
Governor’s Authorized Representative Patrick Guerrero listens during a meeting with the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding, Tuesday, in the House chamber.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
For Patrick C. Guerrero, the governor’s authorized representatives for federal assistance, the CNMI government is very grateful for the funding assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act.
“Do we need more? Certainly. But we have so far found some means to stay afloat by also cutting cost where we can. Many costs are unavoidable because we can’t put a dollar amount on someone’s life. How do we continue in the coming year, is a question that remains to be answered. But I hope that we’ve done what we could with what little we have this past year,” he said.
“I am glad [2020 is] over, but we are far from over with this pandemic.”
The vaccine is just another line of defense, Guerrero said, but he added that the CNMI, so far, has done a great job of preventing the spread of Covid-19.
“We still need to practice safety measures like washing our hands, social distancing and wearing masks.”
He said the public health protocols have also allowed some people to take up worthwhile hobbies “like backyard gardening.”
He added, “We’re not going to return to what it was prior to the pandemic, but we hope for something good if not better when this is all over.”
Boni Sagana, an advocate of improved status for longtime guest workers, was happy about the enactment of H.R. 559, which provided CNMI-only permanent residency status to certain groups of nonresidents.
House Minority Leader Tina Sablan gestures as she speaks during the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding meeting on Tuesday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
House Minority Leader Tina Sablan also believes that members of the community who have lived and worked here, maintained legal status and become very active members who contribute to the community and raise families, “should have the opportunity to become full members of our society and to have stable status.”
It is good for the economy, good for their family and good for the stability of the community, she added.
And it’s been a long time coming, she said, although she has been saddened to see many longtime members of the community who had to leave over the years.
“But for the ones who are still here, and now finally have the opportunity to apply for and gain residency status it is wonderful development,” she said.
She thanked U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for leading that effort and making it possible. She is also grateful to all of Kilili’s colleagues in the U.S Congress and the CNMI government who supported the effort to provide improved status “to these important members of the community.”
She also expressed hope for the others who have maintained legal status and worked legally but did not meet the other qualification requirements.
Some of “these members of the community have fallen out of status, which is really not a fault of their own but are still members of our community. They, too, should have an opportunity to come into regular, stable, permanent status and continue to live and work here.”
She noted that it is also in 2020 when the NMI Democratic Party became one of the two major political parties on the islands once again.
“Well, it really has been an amazing journey. The NMI Democratic Party went from zero members in April, zero candidate and zero incumbent to four of us who decided to declare as Democrats and announce that we were running again for reelection as Democrats. And we worked from there. There was an amazing team of people who were actively recruiting candidates. We the incumbents were also recruiting candidates and we built a slate of strong, credible, qualified, caring citizens who wanted to offer themselves for public service. And so we went from zero in April to 10 incoming Democrats and independent allies,” she said.
Coming together
For his part, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres congratulated “our entire CNMI community for really coming together this year. Despite the challenges of this very difficult year, it is through hard work, proactive planning, and cooperation by our doctors, nurses, first responders, government employees, private business partners, and our residents that we have made the CNMI the safest place in the United States from Covid-19.”
He added, “Lt. Governor Palacios and I are sincerely grateful to all of you for taking real initiative to keep our manamko’, our critically sick, and our loved ones with preexisting conditions safe. While we continue wearing masks, practicing good hygiene, and social distancing, we continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, so that we can move forward as a community to rebuild our economy and make our islands more resilient for the future. The Covid-19 vaccines provided by CHCC are safe, effective, and trusted by scientists, elected officials, and our faith-based leaders.”
“Let’s continue to be one family working together to build a stronger Marianas. Un Familia, Un Guinaiya, Inafa’maolek, Tipiyeew. Let’s get vaccinated, CNMI,” the governor said.
“From our families and our entire administration, we wish you all a Happy New Year and a safe and prosperous 2021! Please stay safe this holiday weekend.”
