Indeed, local government often lacks dependable data that can be the basis for sound local policy. That is what has been missing for years now. Coupled with a glaring lack of qualified administrators, this means trouble for any administration.
Millions of dollars in stimulus money, for example, will go to other jurisdictions because this administration isn’t prepared to file for the funds on a timely basis. And as the commonwealth’s congressional delegate has reported, the CNMI has not been spending the tens of millions of federal dollars approved for distribution long ago. The economy could use the boost and the people could use the improvements, but a near complete lack of planning has prevented the CNMI from benefiting from this badly needed infusion of federal funds at a very critical time. This hurts everyone.
Interesting
EARLIER this week, the administration, through the former AG, announced the filing of a lawsuit against the dialysis center contractor for non-performance dating back from 2003. It is now 2009.
Contract enforcement is rarely pursued by the government so this lawsuit, filed in federal court at that, raises some very interesting questions.
Dropouts?
THE Public School System released data indicating that approximately 300 students are dropped from graduation rosters each year. To explain this finding, PSS said these students probably leave one school during the school year to attend another school. But this is a substantive number of students that cannot be accounted for. PSS needs to develop a system for tracking the transfers, determine the reason for these transfers, plan for the reduction or expansion of certain schools, and confirm that these are not dropouts.
We should also point out, however, that PSS seems to have been the only government entity prepared to take advantage of the federal stimulus package. PSS will receive over $44 million — about $4,000 per student, as Congressman Kilili has pointed out.
Lack of funding should no longer be an excuse for PSS. It can now hire or retain competent and qualified personnel to ensure that students do come first in the CNMI.
