Columnists

BEING an Economist, the recent CDA change reminded me of what one of my daughters told me when she was my student in high school, “they (our Government) don’t do anything until they HAVE TO” and it’s clear these Republicans with the help of Democrats were finally convinced to “formally address our …

OUR friends at the Marianas Visitors Authority launched the Hafa Adai & Tirow Pledge and are taking the right steps to ensure that we continue to provide authentic Marianas experiences for our visitors. Proposed by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce through its president Joe Guerrero, the Hafa Adai…

INSTEAD of  considering a “universal garbage collection” that will involve the CNMI government — the islands’ most notorious delinquent debtor — concerned citizens may want to look into Pittsburgh’s “Litter League” competition. Like most things useful and beneficial, it’s an idea from people who ar…

AT the point of no return, I started thinking I may have made a big mistake. Standing proudly between the border of the United States and Canada, Lake Superior is an intimidating body of water that truly earns its name.  Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America and contains more …

The following is the text of the remarks made by NMC’s Class of 2021 commencement speaker to his fellow graduates at Saipan World Resort  on May 21, 2021. He completed his Associates in Arts in Business degree this year. LADIES and gentlemen, distinguished guests, faculty and staff of NMC, lo…

ON the front page of Marianas Variety’s first issue in Jan. 1974 was a news article regarding the Trust Territory government’s “standby plan for the rationing of gasoline on Saipan.” It involved the distribution of printed ration cards that “would identify the station from which each cardholder cou…

THIS has been a positively eventful week for The Marianas. The Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers thanks Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov Arnold I. Palacios, and the entire 22nd Commonwealth Legislature for their valuable support in enacting Public Law 22-01 establishing the Commonwealth Economi…

The following is the text of the commencement speech of Eun Ho An at the Hyatt Regency on May 21, 2021. She has completed her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Education, and is now working on her Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in…

I AM probably the closest thing to a “watch-dog agency” in the CNMI and being an Economist, I couldn’t help but to take interest in the recent disclosed “Recovery Plan” that is temporary and not one for the future as claimed. The Governor is gaslighting more than anything, as it aims to revive NMI …

ARE the Republicans under some kind of “Voodoo Spell” or what as they seem to only be able to think of Gambling for the CNMI. The recent assertion by Rep. Leepan T. Guerrero to try and institute “internet gaming” FOR IPI even though this matter is still under investigation as it seems he was trying…