It is good news that administration officials have reconsidered their homestead use plans because it is not appropriate for the Marpi area and it doesn’t take conservation for future generations into account at all.
It is important for concerned citizens to track the administration’s decision to ensure that all steps are taken to protect this area in perpetuity.
Penalties needed
REPRESENTATIVE Tina Sablan scored a partial legal victory in her battle to win disclosure, under the Open Government Act, of relevant documents in the administration’s lawsuit against the federal government.
That a lawmaker has to undertake this process shows that the Open Government Act lacks teeth. While the law outlines how much time the government has to respond to a request for information, there is no penalty for noncompliance. There should be a modest penalty for government agencies that don’t reply in the time specified in the law. Otherwise there is no incentive to comply. Officials can choose to disregard both the spirit and letter of the law.
The Open Government Act relies on government officials who understand the value of providing information to the general public. But there are officials who don’t appreciate the importance of this requirement.
Laws that are not enforced
VANDALISM and littering are an increasing problem in the commonwealth. They cost the taxpayers time and money, and are an eyesore, affecting our ability to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The problem doesn’t seem to be a lack of laws but a failure to enforce them.
There is also no doubt that littering and vandalism should be included as topics in school curriculum because the solution lies with the younger generation growing up to appreciate a clean and healthy environment and understanding what it takes to achieve that.
In the meantime, however, we are back to the main problem: enforcement.
Regarding the problem of littering, the trend on Guam and Saipan appears to be to recruit larger and larger numbers of volunteers willing to pick up trash. While this is commendable and needs to be done in the absence of any change in behavior, it doesn’t seem like a workable long-term solution. Somehow people must be persuaded that polluting the environment with unwanted graffiti and litter is not respectful of this beautiful island or its residents.
Maybe an educational campaign and curriculum need to be developed along these lines and sustained until the problem goes away.
Unanswered questions
THE delayed implementation of federal immigration law has created some relief in some ways but leaves many questions that federal authorities seem unwilling or unable to answer.
It may be that federal agencies are waiting, like everyone else, to see what the outcome of the governor’s lawsuit is, or maybe the feds are quite not sure what they will do given data supporting the argument that the impact on the local economy may be catastrophic.
