For once the governor was right in his assertion that the Washington rep. was “politicking” with his desire for a disaster declaration of CUC. I guess the governor has been so out of touch that he forgot it was the Washington rep.’s job and it will also be the U.S. delegate’s job to help us with finding remedies to our problems especially when the solution is in Washington and not on Capital Hill. The man does his job well and the governor tries to blast him but the gun backfired because NO ONE with or without common sense will be against a disaster declaration. The governor has chosen his brand of politics to destroy the Washington rep. over trying to help the people by sending a disaster declaration to Washington. I’m sure we can afford to fax a disaster declaration to Washington but it will be the Washington rep. who will be the “point man” for the CNMI and the governor can’t let him get that kind of credit.
But I’m sure most voting citizens know the governor does not agree with the Washington rep. on letting the feds help us. The governor has chosen to force us to cope with the crisis for his own political stance against the feds. I have nothing against Mr. Muna but for him to literally brag about how the people can cope with the power problem was very disturbing and heartless. Being tough is one thing but being foolish is not acceptable and we would indeed be foolish not to try for federal disaster assistance. I’m sure it was obvious to people with common sense that Mr. Muna was covering for the governor and his political plan to destroy the Washington rep.’s chances for being elected to Congress even though he is the only delegate speaking up to find help for the people.
I would like to ask Mr. Muna that if our power situation is not in a state of disaster then what do you call it when we barely have enough money to purchase fuel? What do you call it when we have gone from six generators down to ONE and don’t know when or how they are going to be fixed? What do you call it when the power rates are raised beyond the ability of the average citizen to pay without making humanitarian sacrifices of their family? What do you call it when the quality of life and business is at an all time low from no power? What is it when people don’t have water because there is no power? What do you call it when thousands of pounds of meat have already gone bad for many people and the outages are getting even longer making it harder for our freezers to even keep meat frozen? Just what is a disaster for the people Mr. Muna? I’m sure people with common sense don’t agree with your assessment nor do they appreciate your contempt for them being forced to cope unnecessarily for the political fight of the governor.
The governor said he had a plan for CUC and I’m sure we can count on it being just like the plan for Better Times. The fact is the governor is playing politics by putting a bad spin on the Washington rep.’s suggestion over helping the people. Everyone can see the Washington rep. is doing his job and the governor doesn’t like being up-staged and the proof is in the details — it’s really common sense. The people are surly going to judge the governor’s pursuit of politics or help for the people and it will only cost the price of a phone call to get us some relief. One People, One Direction for a Disaster Declaration.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
