Ed Propst said the situation on the island is “really deplorable” due to the constant power outages.
“The condition that we’re living today is really deplorable. Our government offers no solution to our problems,” said Propst.
Propst along with Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, and more than a dozen other individuals, are gearing up for the protest action set for Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Garapan Fishing Base.
Sept. 17 is Citizenship Day in the U.S. and Propst said this is the day when their voices should be heard not just by the local government but by the U.S. as well.
“We live in a third world squalid condition,” said Propst, adding that this is not acceptable because Saipan is part of the U.S. political family.
Protesters are asked to wear black shirts to symbolize darkness whenever there’s blackout.
They are also asked to bring candles and umbrellas as a contingency plan in case it rains.
Propst said a signature campaign will be launched during the protest rally asking President Bush to declare the CNMI a disaster area.
Doing so will allow the federal government to appropriate funds for the emergency rehabilitation of CUC’s power plants.
Propst said the protesters will ask for “federal receivership” or “federal intervention” to resolve the island’s lingering problems with electricity.
The Fitial administration signed an agreement with the U.K.-based Aggreko International Power Projects Ltd. to lease CUC 15-megawatt generators.
These are expected to be up and running by Sept. 16.
But the public is wary how the financially troubled CUC could come up with the $504,000 monthly rental fee to Aggreko and what happens after the lease agreement ends.
“Aggreko is just a band-aid solution,” said Propst.
With power constantly out, Saipan residents also has no water supply as the pumps do not operate without electricity.
