I’ve seen and heard enough from Charles Reyes. No offense Charles, you do a great job with the press. And I’d like to add that you smoke-screen like a pro. It must be taxing on you to be the administrations backbone. It is Benigno and Tim — no one else — who should address the public during these Broke Times.
Benigno, are you a man or a mouse? The answer is obvious from your actions or inaction. Would you like some cheese?
It is your job to address the public during these trying times. This is one of many reasons you get paid. And let me remind you that you are an employee of the CNMI. You report to every tax paying citizen of the CNMI. The CNMI collectively is your boss. Benigno, your job performance as governor thus far is dreadful. You’ve failed the CNMI, well, so did your predecessor. If we had an approval rating system, I can’t imagine how poorly your administration would fare, certainly your rating would be somewhere in the negative scale. Your administration is a train wreck. Your game of musical chairs with cabinet members being hired, then fired, then re-hired, and fired again is pathetic and a crying disgrace. It’s a sign of incompetence, weakness and being clueless. You’re wasting the taxpayers’ hard earned money. It’s painful and embarrassing for me personally to watch your administration unravel at the seams. Your incompetence is taxing. Enough is enough! Quit clowning around. How I wish there was a quick and easy way to serve you and Tim your walking papers.
So, let’s say you were given a second chance to redeem yourself. Everyone deserves a second chance right. Well, for starters, this is what I’d like for you to do:
1. Apologize for your extended absence.
2. Have frequent press and radio conferences to discuss hot issues such as CUC and its challenges and progress. And don’t send Charles Reyes — give the man some time for his wounds to heal from the blows he’s been taking on your behalf.
3. Follow the power outage schedule.
4. Be transparent and engaging to the CNMI (your employer and immediate boss).
5. Trim the size of government (addition by subtraction).
6. Reassess your priorities. The CNMI’s core industry (tourism) should be moved-up to priority #1, of course assuming the CUC, CPA, CDA, CHC debacles have been reversed. Forget about pie in the sky industries like garments, sneakers or peanuts. I doubt NIKE will be knocking on our doors anytime soon begging us to make their Air Jordan’s here in the CNMI.
7. Demand that Tim Villagomez resign his post and return every penny of salary he’s earned as your lieutenant governor.
8. And lastly, resign as our governor.
Babauta and Benavente and all previous administrations, don’t think you didn’t contribute to the debacle that is plaguing the CNMI today. You all had equal hand in breaking the CNMIs back. Shame on you! Please oblige us by retiring from politics. Let the younger generation take over. If you couldn’t fix CUC then, what makes you think you can fix it this time around? Fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice, shame on us.
Thanks for nothing!
PHILIP LEYLAND
Navy Hill, Saipan
