Oh the impunity
DUMPING household trash in the COP area has been in the news since the late 1970s or even earlier — even before there was a hotel and golf resort there. Despite the prohibition on littering by the Trust Territory government, MV’s news files suggest that litter bugs were a cause for concern during that time. The anti-littering law of 1989 was supposed to address such problems, but its enforcement “has been minimal and sporadic,” according to the Legislature itself. In 2016, lawmakers passed an “improved” version of the measure, P.L. 19-53, which was supposed to be enforced by BECQ, DLNR, DPW, the mayor’s office, the zoning office, Public Health, DPL and DPS. It was later announced that DEQ, DPS and the AG’s office had trained and certified 85 litter control apprehending officers: 53 from Saipan, 16 each from Tinian and Rota.
But illegal dumping — especially in certain well-known public areas — continues.
In a recent meeting, some lawmakers assured COP that the Legislature will “assist” the hotel. How? The Legislature has passed, and continues to pass, so many laws that either cannot be implemented or whose implementation did nothing or made things worse. Besides volunteering to monitor public areas (especially in the evening) or cleaning them up what else can lawmakers do?
Meanwhile, in Marpi, cows continue to roam public areas and roads despite the “warning” DPL issued to cattle owners four years ago.
The government, of course, can’t be expected to stop or prevent all violations of law; but surely it can go after those who do — or it can figure out a way to do so.
The authorities’ baffling inability to enforce a law as simple as the anti-littering statute is a subject worth an oversight investigation on the part of lawmakers. However, they seem to believe that the topic lacks significant political benefits, and could potentially upset certain voters — in an election year.
So good luck COP.
Puff release
IN a recent press release, the CNMI Department of Labor says it is “committed to empowering individuals to reach their full potential through education and training.” Which makes PSS, NMC and NMTI what?
CNMI DOL said it also intends to “help…individuals navigate the job market and achieve their career goals.”
What job market? Where? And what careers other than government employment (preferably federally funded)?
CNMI DOL likewise touts yet another “one-stop” center. How many government “one-stop” centers have been bandied about in the past? How many actually exist? And speaking about “one-stop,” Labor and Commerce used to be a single executive department. In the mid-1990s it was split and Labor became the Department of Labor and Immigration at a time when the CNMI still controlled its immigration. Not anymore. Why can’t Commerce and Labor be consolidated into one department — as proposed by the (federally funded) fiscal response summit four years ago?
CNMI DOL also says it is “committed to fostering economic growth.” We sure hope so. But the way to do it is to get rid or at least reduce government red tape; amend or scrap onerous anti-development and anti-growth laws and rules; and then get out of the way of legitimate, law-abiding businesses that are trying to remain afloat in an economic sinkhole that is mostly government created.
