It is here already! The past decade has seen our wonderful country stagger under the effects of an external economic and political whipping that has brought us to the edge of economic collapse. Payless paydays are upon us and there is more bad news to come.
We must begin today preparing for the future with bright new ideas that will move us back toward financial prosperity and give us hope for the future once more. We can stop the “brain drain” occurring as many of best and brightest citizens move away to get a better life. They will come back if we act now to make our future, the future of ALL the CNMI prosperous.
I propose a four part integrated plan to turn Saipan, Tinian and Rota around financially. With money in our citizens’ pockets and a strong and growing public and private cash flow going; most of our other ills will take care of themselves with a little help.
First
We must tame the dreaded Utility Power monster. The latest generation safe and secure Nuclear Power is a possibility for all three islands and eternally renewable Geo-Thermal Energy right here on Saipan is also a possibility. We need to move forward immediately to decide which is best, fastest, and safest and will deliver the cheapest power. Then we need to start building it immediately. We can’t wait and waste any more years. We must have reliable, cheap power to sustain ourselves and to attract investment. We must do it now.
Second
Tourism continues to be our only lifeline. Our only income stems from this delicate source. We must find and nurture an alternative income producing industry. In the meantime we must be imaginative in our actions on how to greatly expand the number of visitors who come here and the money they leave behind. One attraction that can draw huge numbers of cash-rich visitors is Casino Gaming on all three islands. On Saipan where the infrastructure already exists for airport entry and major hotels to host international level gaming; on Tinian where needed airport upgrades are just a short step away from jump starting the existing casino and finally setting the stage for new resort investment; and on Rota where its charming setting can become a Mecca for laid back up-scale tourists to come, visit, relax and play in world class casinos.
Third
Tourism, like any other business needs a “hook,” something different, and something few if any other places offer. One such idea is gaining momentum in several places around the globe. If we strongly regulate and heavily tax sales and use of cannabis, or marijuana, huge amounts of money would roll into our government coffers and be spread throughout our economy. Large numbers of visitors from all around the world, not just Asia, would start immediately streaming to our shores to avail themselves of this natural plant and its benefits for health and pleasure. This is truly a completely renewable resource. Business would spring up to accommodate and service these world-wide customers. The CNMI would have a very profitable agriculturally based export crop of major proportions within a very short period of time. Worldwide attention and huge amounts of fee publicity would heap itself on us at virtually no cost to us. Millions of people around the world use this plant but have to hide. If we bring it out in the open, many of them would come here to rest, relax and enjoy our islands in paradise while having access to their favorite varieties of cannabis in a safe setting. Some say we might lose U.S. funding. So what? We will have so much income from this we can do without it.
Fourth
To have a sustainable economy we need to have a sustainable Environment. We should do all we can to recycle much of the money that will come our way from the above income sources into maintaining and improving our infrastructure and our environment. While keeping natural areas is important for attracting tourists and for providing us residents with a playground we must also balance that need with the needs of a growing population and with the God-given rights of individuals to use their property as they best see fit for themselves and their families. We must have green spaces but we don’t want to all live on a barge outside the lagoon and just look at the land from there. Endangered species are important, but not as important as the humans who protect them and who protect their own families. Let us strive to strike this balance and if we err slightly let it be on the side of Humanity, not on the side of blind environmental extremism. God has given us the fishes of the sea and these beautiful isles to sustain ourselves. Let us protect and improve them for our own reasonable use and for our children and their children to use when their time comes.
Act now
Were it not for the fiscally responsible policies of the past few years, we would already be down and out laying on the economic canvas. If we do not act now and act decisively we will surly wind up on our knees and on that canvas sooner not later. Yes, we need to talk and we need to plan but more than anything right now we need to make some important decisions and we need to ACT on those decisions right away while there is still time. Our country, like us, needs income; we need jobs and industry and opportunities.
Yes, my fellow citizens, the future is coming and it will not wait. We would either prepare ourselves for it and set the groundwork for prosperity and freedom or we will fall into that vast chasm of hopelessness and poverty that leaves us at the mercy of political powers much stronger than we are. Our chance at self governance may soon disappear.
Do we make our own destiny or do we let time relentlessly bear down on us until all our choices are gone? Join with me and let’s act now, right now, to improve our lives, our land, our homes, our families and our prospects for the future.
REP. STANLEY
T. McGINNIS TORRES
17th CNMI Legislature
