Cruz said staring at 10 a.m., he and his group will denounce the Fitial administration for its failure to address the CNMI’s problems and for its “abuses in using the state of emergency declaration powers.”
He added, “We will not stop our protest until the governor steps out from his office.”
Cruz also wants Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez and all the cabinet members to resign.
“We will continue our protest in the following days until the governor resigns — everybody wants them out,” he added.
According to Cruz, “Democracy requires that the governor listens and adheres to the will of the suffering and oppressed people of the commonwealth. We as citizens and residents of the commonwealth must unite as one for we have all suffered enough.”
When asked if he could gather a large crowd for today’s protest, Cruz said that it is “not the number that counts but the reasonable sentiments” they will present that should be considered.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said “Cruz is free to exercise his freedom of speech, though some of his arguments may not have merits or may be unwarranted and unreasonable.”
Reyes said the Fitial administration is addressing the CNMI’s problem, particularly those involving the Commonwealth Utility Corp.
“We understand the problems at CUC and we are working to resolve them,” Reyes said.
He said Cruz and his group have contributed to CUC’s financial mess by successfully pressuring the previous Legislature into passing the power rate cut measure despite the governor’s veto.
It was this law, Reyes added, that triggered a major financial crisis for CUC because it forced the agency to charge rates below actual costs.
“Protesting won’t solve CUC’s problems because protesting won’t create capital or lower fuel costs,” he said. “CUC needs capital to secure additional power generation capacity, fix the engines, and buy fuel to sell power.”
Reyes noted that Taotao Tano has lost many members who have started their own separate groups.
“Mr. Cruz should watch CNBC and take special note of the record rise in oil prices,” Reyes said.
Cruz said he will ask the U.S. Congress to help the CNMI address its power shortage.
The federal government, he added, can send power barges to Saipan.
He said the “insensitivity and ignorance” of the Fitial administration “is clear evidence of its neglect of duty now affecting the general well-being” of the community.
He added, “It is time that we the people of the commonwealth take action and take control of our own and future destiny.”
Cruz said no politician or political group is supporting Taotao Tano’s call for the resignation of Fitial and his cabinet members.
