Meanwhile, according to the Scholarship Office, only 42 of 208 recipients have returned to the CNMI for employment. In other words, this huge government can no longer afford to hire everyone, including, perhaps especially, those with college degrees. Likewise, there are only so many management or executive positions available in the hotels or the few large retail business interests on island.
The government’s scholarships are among its very few worthwhile programs. But there is now a need to rethink them to match realistic funding levels.
Moreover, the requirement that scholars must immediately work in the CNMI after graduation should be scrapped. That rule makes no sense today.
The government also needs to drop the politically convenient pretense that it can still fully fund such programs. It must now direct students to federally guaranteed loans, grants as well as college-based scholarships. Parents, for their part, must realize that they are placing themselves and their children in a difficult position if they continue to rely on this government’s ability to meet its financial obligations. Observe the number of programs and services that have already been cut, the government’s failure to pay vendors, CUC or the Retirement Fund. And remember: shaming this government into doing the right thing has never worked.
Like we said, worst Legislature ever
THE governor vetoed two bills that would impose additional financial burdens on the government, but lawmakers overrode the vetoes to please voters. This is a Legislature that is vaguely aware of what to do to improve the local economy or the livelihood of the people. But it can be relied to go on junkets, raise fees/taxes, regulate bicyclists, animals, free speech and trust funds. It also imposes its will on independent government entities to compel them to file suits that board members refuse to undertake.
After saddling the Retirement Fund with benefits that it cannot hope to pay, the Legislature once again is tinkering with the pension agency’s obligations to its membership through legislation that threatens the Fund’s ability to act independently and in the best interest of its members.
More businesses are closing their doors in the CNMI each day but lawmakers seem unaware of what the consequences will be. They continue to pass laws to suit particular interests even if it means further damaging the CNMI’s reputation aboard and hampering any new investment opportunity for years to come.
