Benusto Piteg
PRECINCT 1 House candidate Benusto Piteg is asking the public to vote for change “because I believe something needs to be done.”
“Are we satisfied with the current situation of the economy? With these austerity measures, and the increasing cost of food and other commodities? Do we have assurance about the retirement pension? Are we okay with the utility costs?” the Republican candidate asked.
These are the questions that voters have to keep in their mind when they go to the polling booth, Piteg said in an interview.
He is urging voters to also support his fellow House Republican candidate, Roy Ada, and U.S. delegate candidate Kimberlyn King-Hinds.
“Voters should ask themselves: What are our current lawmakers doing to help us?” Piteg said.
Because he is one of the ordinary citizens who are suffering, Piteg said, “I decided to run. I want to help our people address the problems we are facing.”
He said if voters feel they are doing okay, “then go ahead and support” the incumbent candidates.
“But if you are not satisfied with what is going on, please support the Republican Party,” he added.
Piteg, who has been in government service for more than 30 years, said he knows how it feels to be in this current situation, referring to state of the local economy.
If he wins, he said the first thing he would do is work for the reinstatement of Annex VI of the U.S.-China Civil Air Transport Agreement, which exempts the CNMI from the flight frequency limitations between the U.S. and China, “so we can bring in flights from China.” “We need more tourists to come in and to spend their money here,” he added.
He said he would also work on improving CNMI tourist sites “so tourists will come back and visit our islands again and again.”
Piteg noted that many businesses are closing, including the island’s other newspaper, Saipan Tribune.
“Are we going to continue with this trend? Or do we really want to do something about it?” he asked.
He said he is running for office because he wants to do something about it.
Ordinary citizens are having a hard time going to the store to buy food because everything is expensive, he said. “What are our leaders doing about it?”
