THERE is no doubt the CNMI owes a real sincere THANKS of Gratitude to our Delegate Kilili for making sure the CNMI not forgotten in Federal Legislation and the People & Federal Government of America for the continued aid they have provided to the CNMI. Given the People of the CNMI don’t contribute a single penny to the Federal Tax System it means all the millions that now add up into the Billions of Federal Dollars that have been sent to the CNMI was virtually FREE money! I can remember some years ago of locals publicly refusing to be called an “American” and I took them on in this newspaper admonishing them about the “hypocritical behavior” they were exhibiting. But I bet these same people took that 600 Dollars from Americans and will surely take the next 1,400 dollars that is on the way. For me, any local who doesn’t like being called an “American” really needs to rethink what they are saying and believing because you ARE a “Chamorro American or Carolinian American.” I’m sure these locals were very glad to be an American so you could take American money which I’m sure they did without hesitation. So, I hope the recent help the CNMI has gotten from their fellow Americans will give these Locals pause to really be thankful & proud to say “I’m an American” which is what we teach all locals in the Public Schools of the CNMI.
The head-rest of George Washington’s “Rising Sun” chair.
File photo
But this pandemic is not the first time for the CNMI to get financial aid from Americans as the CNMI has been getting all kinds of financial assistant after virtually every typhoon and with many of our Government Programs. In fact, the CNMI might still be operating like a “Third-world Country” had it not been for Americans and the Federal Government and all the aid that has been sent our way. I can even remember that during the Fitial administration, some elected officials tried to include the Federal Aid Money as “part of PSS’s Budget” to try and decrease the CNMI Government’s liabilities for PSS’s Budget but fortunately the Board of Education didn’t sit still for that “power-play for money.” Still today we are seeing the Government manipulate the Federal Aid for their personal intentions. These Republicans furloughed the people they don’t like but once the Federal Aid kicked in they turned around and hired NEW People over furloughed people who should have the RIGHT to be rehired FIRST especially when they were even MORE qualified. I could go on and on with examples of how the Governor and his Republican Crew have manipulated Federal money coming to the CNMI but I think the point has been made enough for People to remember.
American Justice & Congratulations to our New Public Auditor
Congratulations to Ms. Kina Borja Peter, the CNMI’s first female public auditor, as I’m sure there are a lot of People who are very proud of you, especially your family and the women of the CNMI. You have made CNMI History and I was sooooo glad to read about you being sworn-in as I’m praying that your inauguration will be proof that the sun-is-rising on a “New Sherriff” in the CNMI who will work FOR the People and not the Administration. Our AG has already failed us miserably and Ms. Kina Borja Peter is now our best Local hope for some real old-fashioned “American Justice.” I have no doubt that the People of the CNMI will surely be waiting to see what you are going to do about the alleged illegal activity conducted by the Governor.
It is no secret that the Governor appointed Ms. Peter but there are literally thousands of People in the CNMI who are hoping and praying she will fulfill her oath to OUR Constitution & the People with no obligations to the Governor who appointed her. I can remember Governor Fitial saying he “wished he had appointed a different Public Auditor” other than the Honorable Mike Pai after he was caught and prosecuted by Mr. Mike Pai whom he appointed. Believe it or not readers, “history does repeat itself” which is why it is so important and even critical to learn these lessons taught by history to avoid making the same mistake. Well, the previous Public Auditor Mr. Pai got it right and there is real hope that Ms. Peter will also get it right in dealing with the Governor.
So, you can be assured Ms. Peter that the Governor is going to put some pressure on you if he hasn’t already because he has already PROVEN to the People and the Democrat Party that he will try to manipulate our Government and our Justice System for his personal intentions. People are surely hoping you will do the right thing as they are going to be watching and waiting to see what you will do. So please don’t be afraid of the Governor Ms. Peter and please don’t be afraid to do your job because I’m sure the People of the CNMI will have-your-back, especially me. As long as you are doing the RIGHT Thing you have nothing to fear and the People of the CNMI will surely be behind you for doing the right-thing by applying some American-Justice FOR the People of the CNMI. Reiterating my sincere KUDOS to you Ms. Kina Borja Peter and may you go forward with “God’s Blessings & God-Speed,” as WE the People need some American-Justice NOW!
To be continued: One People One Direction.
The writer is a retired teacher, former CNMI Board of Education Member, James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
