Columnists

THE other day someone asked me why it is important for the Marianas to develop a universal garbage collection plan now. I told them that there’s a sense of urgency to provide the service for many important reasons, one of which is that it is an investment in our people’s health, quality of life, an…

YOU have heard of E.B. White. He wrote “Charlotte’s Web” and “Stuart Little” among other books, and became a great champion of writing in the English language, having edited “Elements of Style.” One might assume that writing was his passion, but it was only his vocation. White had a secret seducer,…

THE GOOD on the horizon is definitely the hope that Rep. Tina Sablan will be our next Governor who will surely be working to “undo all the BAD generated by Republicans and erase all the Ugly in the Executive Office that has been going on under Torres and Republicans.  Republicans even have the NERV…

“RAISE awareness, gather allies, and unify your voice.” President Barack Obama pointed me in that direction when I asked him a question about the military presence in the Pacific islands. Our brief exchange occurred in 2019. I stood among an audience of global leaders, he responded from the stage a…

HÅFA Adai yan Tirow Wóómi, with our signature Aluf, from your friendly island of Luta. When the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers visited Rota in May this year to help spruce up our youth center and basketball court, our residents were motivated to do their part in the village facilities and …

THERE is no doubt and no one can deny the Democrats made the right choice with Rep. Tina Sablan who can be TRUSTED for Governor as she is also the author of the Open Government Act —  she is really a “double-whammy” killing both of the Republicans’ chances.  Republicans are trying their same old “d…

TO mark its 16th anniversary in March 1988, Marianas Variety’s editor David T. Hughes noted that we were “one of the few papers in the Pacific which have been in business this long under one owner.” Like the CNMI, “this newspaper…was started on somewhat of a shoestring…. It was originally started…t…

RECENTLY on social media, a resident posted a photo depicting bags of trash dumped at her family member’s grave. She was furious. Imagine going to the cemetery to visit and honor your loved ones only to find a pile of trash left behind by irresponsible and disrespectful illegal dumpers. You’d be fu…

GOVERNMENT has an obligation of transparency and accountability to its governed citizens, at the very least in civil matters; this is the bare minimum of function.  Above that, any good thing it manages to accomplish or noble principle it espouses is a net positive.  Below that, any tardiness or un…

WHILE the House JGO is steadfast on “DOING the PEOPLE’S Business” the Governor’s Crew is now being true-to-form and predictable in “Protecting & Serving” the Governor, not YOU!  The sad part is they ALL swore an oath that they just tossed out the window with the little integrity they had left. …