We also let them know that our government will support them financially in doing so through scholarships. Well, there are students facing the reality of dropping out of school and losing the roof over their heads because their scholarship checks never came — checks that were due in January and its now June and school is out. Now there are some who are even contemplating coming home and giving up because they can’t even think about attending school next year without their scholarship — the government is destroying our future and their hopes & dreams for a chance to be a professionals in the CNMI.
Our government has literally put these students in harm’s way by not sending the checks in a timely fashion. There is also the real concern that certain students were “hand-picked” to get their scholarship checks — so who really decided on the distribution of the checks because there seems to be no real guidelines for prioritizing the disbursements of the checks? Why weren’t the off-island students prioritized and taken care of FIRST!!! The headlines in the news proved that I’m not alone and that many parents are very up-set at our government for putting our children on the spot, especially those so far away from home on the mainland. If these kids are truly our FUTURE we should be doing everything we promised them in a timely fashion. They should not have to be worrying about where they are going to live and how to afford school but concentrating on their school work.
Governor and the entire administration had better do something quick, fast and in a hurry or I will be the first to start picketing the Governor’s office for my children and I’m sure I won’t be alone. If these checks are not release by Friday, the 17th of this month I am calling on all Parents to meet me in front of the Governor’s office on the 20th at 8 a.m. to protest the delay in disbursing the CNMI & SHEFFA scholarships. It looks like we must force our government to live up to its promise to our kids. If you are truly a parent who is concerned about your child — you will be there as politics nor anything else should stand in your way to help your child who is truly part of the future of the CNMI. It is down-right wrong and even ugly to treat our youth this way when we KNOW how much they are depending on us and how much we are depending on them for the future. One people one direction for protesting the disbursement of the scholarship funds.
Post Script: My daughter has been asked to represent the CNMI in Samoa. The Association is purchasing the plane ticket which I truly appreciate but they are very short on funds and there isn’t a dime for her spending money. So if anyone is willing to help Yvonne represent the CNMI, please contact me or this newspaper for your donation. Parents are picking up the governments slack at every turn and I have had ENOUGH — see you on the 20th!!!!!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
