“I respect their views but at this point, the rally may not be necessary because of the Aggreko generators — we now have a much more stable power supply, and the governor has a long term plan to resolve our power crisis,” Reyes said.
He said the governor will also meet next week with Office of Insular Affairs Director Nikolao Pula to secure federal assistance for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
But businessman Ed Propst, one of the rally organizers, said the governor should have addressed and prioritized CUC’s problem since the day he assumed office in Jan. 2006.
Propst said the governor did not have plan for the power situation and “was not able to bring down the power rates.”
He expects many businessmen to participate in the rally to express their “frustration.”
“People are very supportive. We receive phone call, e-mails,” he said.
Propst said the rally will have no political undertones despite the presence of elected officials like Reps. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, and Ed T. Salas, R-Saipan.
Officials and politicians who are joining the protest action are “doing a great service to the people and they are also private citizens,” Propst said.
Reyes said the group’s legitimate concerns — a stable power supply, federal assistance and anti-corruption efforts — are already being addressed.
“Obviously, we appreciate the group’s frustrations,” he said. “The administration has also experienced frustration with the power crisis we inherited from poor managers. But we are making progress in resolving these issues, and we appreciate the group’s concerns.”
Reyes said the CNMI will achieve a desirable solution to the power crisis “by rationally working together instead of tearing our communities apart with strident political protests and dissent.”
Propst said they will also meet Pula to present the signed petition of the community members asking President Bush to declare Saipan’s power situation a “humanitarian disaster.”
Propst is also urging Tinian and Rota residents to hold public demonstrations on their islands today.
