These investors, other than to invest and pay taxes, are they also supposed to create jobs for the people of the CNMI? I mean on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, there were news articles about questionable JVA’s, and they make me wonder if the reason for USCIS being here was to make decisions about the hiring of foreign workers who comprise the majority of the private sector workforce in the CNMI while CNMI residents are left with very few jobs.
The other question I have is this: Is it because of our inability to make regulations to justify local control over immigration and decrease unemployment of local residents that USCIS took over?
One good example is the Saipan lawmakers’ concerns about the casino bill, which is not as important as these federal takeover issues. I mean, shouldn’t they be worried about what will happen to our economy if a majority of these business shut down because they cannot afford to continue their business without the reliable workforces they need? I mean, shouldn’t lawmakers try and save the remaining investors we have that are generating revenue?
Shouldn’t they also be worried about the rules and regulations that support USCIS’ intentions?
Shouldn’t they start cleaning up their mess? Like, for example, the hiring of political supporters. What if they start looking into the CNMI government workforce and implement a program to improve it by helping employees to qualify for the positions they’re holding. Wouldn’t it be nice if all government employees know their duties and responsibilities and are helping improve themselves as well as the CNMI government system?
If I know what I am doing, I wouldn’t be looking for someone else to blame if I get caught doing nothing. Plus knowing what to do makes a task easier to perform and to identify what else needs to be done. Not only that, we might gain the trust, respect and the support of other people.
I believe that if we do all this, the federal government has plenty of support to give us, and there will be more jobs for locals and the federal minimum wage rate will not be a problem for everyone.
Do you see the picture here?
WINNIE ATALIG
San Jose, Tinian
