First, my personal congratulations for the new online service of the Marianas Variety which should benefit both on and off-island readers from here. Next, please print the following.
Regarding your story on lifting the salary cap for the “we few” published on Monday. If I may point out some inconsistencies:
1. The governor questioned salary raises approved by the board of the Commonwealth Ports Authority. CPA has repealed such decision.
2. The lt. governor came out last week warning departments and agencies on spending given the severe drop in revenue by $13 million. In fact, the administration has sent a letter to the Legislature seeking total reprogramming authority in order to watch the local coffers.
3. This week, the whole measure on austerity was turned into a mockery when the governor lifted the salary cap for his “we few” favorites while denying the vast majority of civil servants their dues.
I assume that the policy on austerity is intended to APPLY EQUALLY TO ALL employees in the public sector. Why only the “we few”? Isn’t it true that all employees with families feel the pain of the current economic doldrums, including the “we few” favorites who were given special treatment?
Just thought I’d bring this obvious self-violation of your austerity measure to your nimble minds.
JOHN S. DEL ROSARIO JR.
Koblerville, Saipan
