By Ambrose M. Bennett – Activist
THE Truth is the “Mining Issue” is just part of OUR evolution as humans on earth who are literally using up the natural resources on the planet and the search for minerals is not going to stop. However, I commend Gregorie Michael Towai for his editorial on mining that offered an alternative to mining. His delineation of what the CNMI could do in the form of “Scientific Study driven Tourism” from “the Mariana Trench to our seamounts, coral systems, migratory corridors, and culturally rich coastal waters.” At least someone other than Ambrodamus is “thinking & Dreaming about a BETTER CNMI” with his “Blue Frontier” approach to make the CNMI a global magnets for scientific exploration, research, innovation, and high-value tourism with the CNMI being a regional hub of ocean science and exploration, attracting universities, governments, NGOs, and private institutions to study, map, and innovate-all under our control.”
Mr. Towai is obviously a very smart gentleman who put a lot of thought & his heart into his suggestion for the CNMI to become the Blue Frontier. I don’t want to tarnish his idea but to improve upon. But there are some very serious challenges to his idea starting with depending on OUR leaders and OUR ability & fortitude to “to do the work and to finance (invest) in creating the conditions for Scientific Exploration,” as WE (the CNMI) can’t buy bread figuratively. I also totally disagree with his interpretation of “OUR” implying only the indigenous can participate, especially when there are virtually no indigenous scientists & experts to even lead the scientific research & exploration. It is also a slap in the face of the nonindigenous U.S. Citizens who outnumber the indigenous population 2 or 3 to 1 for him to assert that only indigenous people can participate as its obvious too many indigenous people still haven’t got the memo that, “the CNMI is still America where all men (citizens) are created equal.” Another reason I say his plan is short-sighted is because as WE (humans) are constantly consuming the minerals in question for mining and the demand to mine the seabed in our region will only increase and NEVER go away. It good to want to protect the environment but the biggest misgiving is “throwing culture into the pot” to draw attention and even anger people when culture has NO Direct ties to the mining — it’s called gaslighting!
Just imagine the DEMAND for these minerals in another 50 years, as stopping the seabed mining is virtually impossible, which is why it is so important to get “out-front & control the seabed mining for the least amount of damage to the environment” as those who only stand in front of Change to stop it are usually run over. Finally, the CNMI’s sovereignty ends at the 12-mile mark, as the decision is up to the United Nations which has yet to rule on international waters, as the mining outside that 12-mile limit could happen without the CNMI’s permission. The CNMI’s role is really more about having a place to process the different mineral ores being mined for practical usage — new industry! But Mr. Towai truly deserves KUDOS for at least creating a “Basic Plan of the Blue Frontier Brand” for the CNMI to build upon, if someone on the Hill will even lead and do the work to make it happen, as mining will happen if not today then for TRUE tomorrow.
On Cutthroat Steering: I’ve recently discovered by happenstance that there is a lot of “steering” and what Economist call “cutthroat tactics” in our politics and even in the medical sector. I recently had to go through the CHCC Family Clinic to get referred but after my visit upon leaving the Clinic I was approached by a nurse who suggested “you should transfer to our Clinic” without any justification. I can respect the nurse’s commitment to the Clinic and desire to promote the Clinic, but it is “unethical to steer medical patients without cause,” as it is really an unjustified cutthroat tactic. But it gets more interesting as the Kagman Clinic is “steering patients to use another pharmacy without any justification.” Patients are caught in the middle of these unethical practices in medicine.
Why drive all the way to the hospital Family Clinic from Kagman to be in line forever when it’s no gas waste and almost instant service at Kagman Clinic. CHCC is even forcing patients to go through their Family Clinic now to get referred just to steal patients.
There is a Local saying that applies here which I will humbly & respectfully share which says, “STOP the Unethical Cutthroat Steering & Stay-in-YOU-LANE.” All of you are conducting some very ugly inappropriate & unethical practices that need to STOP and let patients make their own decisions based on the merits. One People One Direction
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
