The ocean has clearly placed the islands at a disadvantage in being separated with virtually no conduit for the average person to afford travel between these islands and the boost to the tourist industry has endless capabilities.
I understand the need for a study to justify the money. But the idea really needs no explanation as people with common sense can easily see we need the ferry and the many attributes of a ferry service with virtually no drawbacks, especially, with our commitment to the tourist industry.
But it can only work if the indigenous people on all the populated islands of the Marianas will pledge to become one people on this issue and work together to make it happen.
The enmity between the NMI and Guam must come to an end at some point and this is a great way to start a new beginning. We need everyone’s support to make the ferry service a reality.
I have been waiting for months to see what our governor was going to propose to the federal government as a means for offsetting the impact of federalization.
To my knowledge there is nothing even on the drawing board to offset the impact of federalization other than the lawsuit.
But it is ideas like this that must become part of our “packaged requests” to shore up our economy for the implementation of federalization and the military buildup.
We must use the leverage of federalization while we can to our advantage because once it has been implemented it will be harder to bargain with the federal government — but no one is leading the way for the people.
Our governor and certainly our next governor must have a real plan to shore up our economy under the implementation of federalization. The complaining days and delays are quickly becoming a thing of the past as our congressional delegate just told us in the town hall meetings — no more delays. The CNMI can’t just wait and expect for the federal government to come in and just give us money to fix our problem because it is OUR PROBLEM and we must offer solutions just like Senator Manglona has just done which demonstrates the real purpose and the power of town hall meetings.
Now we must support his idea by writing letters, e-mails and whatever it takes within reason to get this project.
Surely we (the Marianas) can be one people one direction on some things and we should not let our differences on other things get in the way.
If we can’t come together on some things then we shouldn’t expect to accomplish anything — duh! I’m sure that if the legislatures and governors of the NMI and Guam will provide real leadership on this issue and we (the people) will get behind the idea the chances of success will be very very very good. One people one direction.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
