Way back in 1998, I was seated at Oleai Beach Bar & Grill. I was brand new to the beautiful island of Saipan and a few of the regulars at the local watering hole were giving me the low-down on how things worked on the island. A young lawyer named Joey Arriola brought me up to speed on the garment industry and how world trade regulations would allow brand-name clothing to be mass-produced in the CNMI. I vividly remember him telling me how the island’s population had swelled, how the economy of Saipan was booming and that it would all come to an end in 2005. I understood then that it would take a major amount of prudence on the part of the government to prepare for that future event.
I was still living in Saipan on 2005 when the trade restrictions were lifted and the garment factories began their mass exodus. For seven years, I took particular notice that the CNMI government did absolutely nothing to prepare for the impending loss of revenue. I find it notable that when I would relate this story to people, nobody ever seems surprised that a haolie (who had been on island less than a week) better understood the future of the local economy then the Legislature did.
Click ahead to 2009. The house of cards that is the CNMI economy has come tumbling down and most CNMI residents look like Musky the Muskrat in the old Deputy Dawg cartoons, squinting and asking, “Wha’ happened? Wha’ happened?” Well, I’ll tell you what happened. Your leaders, under the heavy influence of Ben Fitial, failed to prepare for an inevitable future. Rather than take responsibility for their actions, or lack thereof, they now choose to point fingers and try to place blame elsewhere. Pathetically, Fitial is suing the federal government (with funds from still unnamed sources) and has now resorted to begging for a stay of execution. This is, in every sense of the word, in vain.
The time has long since passed to discuss whether federalization is good or bad, right or wrong, constitutional or unconstitutional. The impending federalization is reality. The date for implementation has been set and it will come, whether you are ready for it or not. Failure to recognize and accept reality has always been disastrous for all people, in all times. Contemporary Saipan is no exception.
For the sake of our beloved commonwealth, I hope that the upcoming elections will see every member of the current government, save Tina Sablan, overwhelmingly voted out of office. I truly wish you luck and a prosperous future, residents of the Marianas. Knowing what I know about your leaders, you’re going to need it.
MATT WERTZ
Beijing, China
