Meanwhile, the central government is ignoring payments to the Fund, again. The obligation couldn’t be paid without sacrificing basic services and so the governor made a choice. It’s not the right choice. Now it’s the Legislature’s turn to make choices and we suggest that you don’t hold your breath.
There is, in any case, a lesson here for CNMI voters and it is this: making bad choices in elections lead to bad consequences.
Unbelievable
IT seems that in addition to battling the federal government on immigration, the Fitial administration will now assign considerable resources to combat the feds on other fronts as well. The Park Service, which recently cited a Covenant Party supporter for littering, is under fire from the governor’s ARRA fund czar for hiring a U.S. but non-CNMI firm to do work at American Memorial Park. The administration also lectured the feds about transparency and the proper use of federal tax dollars.
All this from a scandal-ridden administration that has to be hauled to court to comply with the Open Government Act — an administration, moreover, that has absolutely shown no signs of competence in handling CNMI taxpayer money, and is now dependent on the generosity of the feds even as it spits on and bites the very hand that feeds this bloated, corrupt and inept government.
Give it a rest governor. Stop whining and do the job you were elected to do.
Change
IT should not come as news to anyone, but many people working and living here are from somewhere else. This diversity benefits the community. The commonwealth has accepted people from the Philippines, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Korea, Thailand, Russia, the states, other Pacific islands and many other places. The result is an acceptance for differences in color, size, religion, language, tradition and, at the end of the day, a socio-cultural richness that is the envy of the region.
But the extension of federal immigration law to the islands has made everyone uneasy. Businesses and their foreign workers are uncertain about their future in the CNMI while local officials insist on resisting change as if that would prevent the world from turning.
But change is everywhere and it must occur if there is to be progression on any level of life. Still, the CNMI and federal governments should exercise great care in how this issue is approached so as not to create gaps that cannot be bridged.
Now for some good news
THE Manta Ray band continues to impress the community with special performances during the Memorial Day services at the Veterans Cemetery and a magnificent concert at American Memorial Park. Congratulations to the musicians, the principal and music director of Saipan Southern High School, the parents, businesses and members of the public for supporting this outstanding group of young artists.
Non-profit organizations like the cancer and diabetes associations, for their part, have done a great job raising awareness of these potentially debilitating diseases, mostly with countless hours of volunteer time. The local Red Cross, now an established organization, works with every facet of this community to bring services to residents, including military families wherever they are. Likewise, PAWS, the neighborhood task force and the beautification groups are providing vital services as well.
This is the real NMI about which every local resident can be proud of.
