Ambrose M. Bennett
THE TRUTH is, there has been a long & extended battle for Democracy to RULE in the CNMI over the Republican’s Local-tocracy (Local Autocracy), as Republicans have ruled like an autocracy forcing things down our throats while the Democrats & Independents sit but failed to FIGHT-FOR the People. It is one thing to work in a “bipartisan manner” but it’s a totally different thing to “fight FOR the People.” As Janet Jackson so famously said, “WHAT have you done for me lately” Democrats, Independents & Republicans, other than raise taxes on cigarettes and other things used by the people at the bottom of our economic ladder. If not for Ambrose, 22 yrs in millions of OUR taxes would’ve been given away, shafting the People AGAIN! I still believed the deal was to enrich some Republican(s) somewhere down the line. Now the Governor comes up with 500 million left over deflecting away from the failed monopoly attempt. But he didn’t provide a “specific infrastructure development plan” that would surely need to focus on our Tourism Industry. Improving the roads does not attract investors with no effect on our economic engine. In fact, our Economic Engine isn’t even running, as WE are virtually operating on “Generator Power in ICU” (internal economy). The Governor has us waiting on the useless CEDA, the Casino Commission, the military and ghost-investors when WE need Tourists to fuel our Economic Engine, as infrastructure gaslighting won’t create prosperity!
WHERE is the plan for “a Camera System for Tourists Sites, Garapan & Traffic Lights with a DPS Command Post, which is long overdue infrastructure that can do a lot to SELL the CNMI as a safe destination for tourists. WHEN is Sugar Dock going to be fixed, as it is a vital part of our transportation infrastructure to Tinian. The Tinian slaughterhouse infrastructure for our need to be more self-sufficient and the list goes on! Touting MVA will expand their marketing when MVA has virtually NOTHING new to sell sounds more like gaslighting than improving Tourism. Our “Tourism Model” needs to be REFORMED, which is something that will surely take a real economist, as even smart businesspeople are not educated nor trained to “deal with all the variables and thinking out-side-the-box analytically, critically, objectively, and even creatively” not to mention the science of Economics “number-crunching & trends research” that is needed for an Economic Recovery Plan. It should be noted that even Banks refer to a real Economist to make decisions, but the Governor is using “picnic table economics” that can only address infrastructure issues paid for by the Feds. The Governor never even mentioned “Tourism” in his statement when Tourism is OUR Primary Business, as he was too busy gaslighting all of us with infrastructure BS!
The Governor claims to “promote fiscal stability” while maintaining a “commitment to building a strong foundation for the economy.” Yet, he refused to stop the 300 thousand a year WE are wasting on the Cannabis Commission FOR his relative Joe Palacios proving nepotism and the fact that he is NOT fiscally responsible. His refusal to place the Cannabis Tourism Industry under the proper Government Entities & Leaders actually prevented the growth of the industry. The Governor claims he is “investing in infrastructure and workforce development to create a diverse economy that’s resilient and not reliant on factors beyond our control.” So, what’s the PLAN Governor for diversifying & building OUR resilience, as every economy is subject to some outside influence. I do know any plan will call for “growing and/or expanding our Economic Base,” but he was just gaslighting with nothing on a HOW WHY WHEN WHERE WHAT & WHO (HW5) Plan. Heck, the Government still doesn’t have a “Systemic Workforce Transition Plan” mandated by the Feds in 2019 & expiring in 2029 — just more gaslighting. The governor also reported that “the Marianas Visitors Authority has projected increased marketing activities and working with the Commonwealth Ports Authority to expose the CNMI to new airlines.” But HOW & WHAT is the plan for exposing the CNMI to new airlines, as saying “arrivals are anticipated to increase to at least 252,000” is not a plan, especially when WE need at least 500,000 just for the hotels to breakeven — more gaslighting! What is the Economic Plan Governor to increase the arrivals, especially when MVA can only sell WWII and the Local Culture. No disrespect, but an Amelia Earhart Monument will attract far more tourists than a Sweet Potato Festival. Why not promote “The HOTTEST Food Festival in the World” with different countries represented on Tinian or “Tour De Marianas Bike Race” to create World Attractions for the CNMI. WE must think BIG if WE are to grow BIG, as WE can’t remain small wanting BIG benefits, as OUR attitude & work will surely determine our altitude. WHERE is the “People’s Party” when needed MOST!
If you didn’t read Zaldy’s Editorial “It’s still the Economy” then you should, as it PROVES the Governor doesn’t have a CLUE to rebuilding our Tourism Industry. I’ve been writing off & on for over a decade about the need to REFORM the CNMI to be the first “Family Destination in our Region with a real Theme Park, a Cable Car to Mt. Tapochau, Zip Lines with active Chamorro & Carolinian Villages and etc.” but the GOP was touting CASINO — a novelty phenomenon in this day and age, just ask Las Vegas that is now a Family Destination! However, do you think any of our Senators who want to be governor or any of our House members who want to be great have bothered to even write a letter and/or call Six Flags, Disney or any other Theme Park or Cable Car operator or any Activity Investor — you know the answer is TAYA. As my MaDear with her wisdom once told me about a job I wanted “the worse that can happen is they will say no BUT they can’t say yes if you don’t ask” — duh, as a Family Destination will surely have a perpetual value. But Republicans have ALL of us HOOKED, by force, on gambling! So, WHEN do WE break the GOP’s & Gambling addictions for real Prosperity???
Arnold is literally handing the Dems a win, as he continues to mess-up. Even the GOP, his origin, is against him for poli-tricking his way into the National GOP hoping it will help him win in 2026, the “Same-O name-switch poli-trick” in our face to get elected and he’s not a magician! So, WHAT will it take for the majority of voters to have SEEN ENOUGH! I really wish I could show our leaders HOW to be great, but I can’t, as “greatness can only be achieved when the opportunity presents itself and you are willing to do the HARD-Work to make it happen.” Something I’m trying to get the Dems to see given all the greatness that is just waiting on them to claim, or do WE need a NEW Independent Democrat Party to claim the rewards, as Tina should’ve been OUR Governor — for TRUE!!!
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
