Not a lot of people attended the rally outside the CUC office at Joeten-Dandan, but it drew the participation of Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, and her critic, Taotao Tano’s Greg Cruz.
“I came here to show my support and solidarity,” Sablan told Variety as the 20-plus participants, lined up along the road to display their placards and streamers against CUC.
Sablan said the people should also know that the Legislature is now conducting an oversight investigation of CUC.
Irene Tantiado, Coalition of United Workers (NMI) president, attributed the low turnout to “timing.”
The other groups who were also supposed to join the rally had previous commitments, Tantiado said, adding that the rally still “effectively sent the message” to CUC.
“The people are tired of complaining because it’s an everyday affair,” said one of the protesters, Enrico Santos.
Greg Cruz believed that most, if not all, of the people are tired of the power crisis. But most of them are “afraid to come out in open” because they might lose their jobs.
The CNMI government is the main employer of local residents.
Cruz noted, however, that passing motorists honk their horns as a show of solidarity with the protesters.
He said his group is willing to participate in future protests against CUC and hopes the people will be “brave and strong enough to express their sentiments.”
