LIKE Mr. Stanley Iakopo said, “this Governor is only offering Lip-service” and he is proving himself to even be a hypocrite now backtracking on who was invited to the Commonwealth Address. He wanted to speak only to his choir as he is the best “Deflecting & Gas-lighting Show Artist” in the history of CNMI Governors. It seems my previous admonishments about the Governor not giving a Commonwealth Address had to be addressed but the Governor wanted to make it a private event for his choir. However, thanks to Senator Edith, Rep. Ed Propst, Rep. Tina Sablan and others complaining, the Governor had to “walk-back” his plans to keep the public and his opposition out because he wanted to control the narrative for the newspapers and TV.
But I must send my sincere prayers and hopes for Stanley, Pricilla and their kids. We need more Iakopos to stand-up against this corrupt administration, especially when the Lt. Governor is no better still doing what he does best, “just remaining quiet and taking it on the chin” and not saying nor doing anything to try and HELP People. Given the corruption and entirety of things that have gone on with the Governor, one would think since he wants to be Governor that the Lt. Governor would have been more vocal publicly. But Arnold is very good at speaking loud about the Governor at his gathering when he’s literally preaching to his choir (his supporters). But instead of publicly fighting to stop the Governor and hold him accountable, Arnold continues to be silent. Only Rep. Tina Sablan is publicly trying to hold the Governor accountable which speaks volumes as to whom the People need to support on Election Day.
I guess Arnold forgot he is STILL the Lt. Governor and can legally do things to put pressure on the Governor to do the right thing but he has chosen to follow his “nature of being silent” as he is NOT a fighter FOR the People. Why hasn’t Arnold, as Lt. Governor, said something and even filed a lawsuit against IPI FOR the People who are now owed $77 million. IPI is being sold-off right in our faces and neither the Governor nor the Casino Commission is laying claim FOR the People’s money — they’re both pathetic. There is NOTHING Arnold can lay claim to have been fighting for, just letting the Governor figuratively PUNK-him!
WE the People have gotten less than 15% of the 2-billion the CNMI has gotten under Ralph & Arnold while the Torres Family has allegedly gotten RICH purchasing Real Estate and garnering sole-source contracts. The Governor continues to refuse to try and lease the Mariana Resort and La Fiesta that could be bringing in a few millions every year because it’s Ambrose demanding for these leases. He isn’t even trying to rebuild our Tourism or he would have been working on it during the pandemic but he was busy vacationing in the Northern Islands and getting contracts for his family. The Commonwealth Address of this Governor is not worth the paper it’s written on, as the last time We the People were promised PROSPERITY and I’m sure he is going to make more promises that he can’t keep, especially when he is facing State Charges and he might even be in the Federal Pen with the rest of his crew after the election. If you truly care about the CNMI and ALL-of-us in the cheap seats, then don’t waste your time & vote with Ralph or Arnold as neither one is really a fighter FOR the People — for TRUE! One People One Direction for NEW & BETTER Leaders!
The writer 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 & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
