President Wilson wanted a league of nations to make right what was done wrong and said “I can predict with absolute certainty that within another generation there will be another world war.” The unworkable peace gave rise to hatred, racism, and was a direct cause of WWII.
Your resolution opposes the DOI recommendations concerning status of guest workers in the CNMI, but no one has heard what you do support or heard any solutions to our complicated labor and immigration situation.
Resistance to federalization without a workable alternative or solution will not stop the glacier, because the only plan that lasts is a plan that works.
To oppose the DOI report, you should prepare to answer a central question “Could the NMI operate without guest workers”? The answer is clearly NO.
Could Saipan keep the airport open one day without guest workers? The answer is NO, and inbound flights would be diverted to Guam.
Could the CNMI keep the hospital or public schools open one day without guest workers? Again, the answer is NO and NO, as ER patients would be without life support and PSS could not feed students’ breakfast or lunch.
Could the CNMI keep the hotels open for one day without guest workers? The answer is NO because they couldn’t provide power, food, or a host of other services those tourists expected.
The CNMI would be a disaster zone requiring immediate federal aid without workers. The U.S. has made it abundantly clear that the two tier system of servitude is over and going forward, the CNMI will be a land of justice and equality for all, something we should take pride in. The old plastic economy that hired cheap labor from the third world to run our island while citizens propped our feet up on unproductive government jobs is winding to a close. The long term effect of that system left citizens unable to take care of our islands and unable to feed ourselves without guest workers, the real tragedy that required federal intervention.
One suggestion to ponder may enable the CNMI to grow and offer opportunity for our children in the private sector and in the small business arena. We could consider recommending three groups of alien workers with a mix of DOI recommendations.
Group one includes CGWs who reside in the CNMI because they are owed judgments of over six million dollars. That group could apply for a permanent resident green card immediately for humanitarian reasons and restitution for non-payment.
Group two includes workers who are vital to the CNMI and to their employers. That essential group of sponsored workers could apply for permanent resident green cards at the end of the first transition period in 2014.
Group three includes employed workers under the CW transitional workers program, which is set to begin as soon as the regulations are released.
I believe that plan may be viable and workable in the commonwealth.
This case ended when the Democratic Congress passed the federalization law, it was signed by President Bush, and President Obama signed the DOI report. The U.S. will not likely act on immigration reform before the November 2010 elections. After the elections, President Obama will push immigration reform that may or may not happen. The president may or may not get elected for a second term. If he is re-elected, he will continue to support immigration reform if it wasn’t passed in his first term. If immigration reform doesn’t pass, or if he isn’t re-elected, I expect him to sign an 11th hour document blanketing every foreign national here with a path to U.S. citizenship. That is what I believe will happen. If you have a brighter plan, concessions to offer for the betterment of our community, or any compromise solutions, I would suggest you speak now, but remember that restricting workers or tying them to a job isn’t an option, and the only plan that lasts is a plan that works.
RON HODGES
Puerto Rico, Saipan
