Go for it Kim
AFTER almost two years, the governor has nothing to show for his “pivot” policy, a critical decision with far-reaching consequences on the CNMI’s only industry and its sputtering economy. He has stated as much, asking us for “two more years” — as if struggling businesses, their employees and the rest of the taxpaying public can afford to see a further diminution of their incomes and livelihood.
Not surprisingly, the candidate who won the delegate election was the one who promised to find more ways to revive the local tourism industry and economy. On the campaign trail and in several public gatherings, Kimberlyn King-Hinds spoke about the need to pursue more tourism markets, including China, and to lobby for the reinstatement of Annex VI. She won. The candidate who echoed the governor’s “pivot” pronouncements lost. (The other candidate in favor of reinstating Annex VI finished third. He and the delegate-elect garnered a total of 59% of the votes cast.)
The governor, in contrast, never mentioned a pivot policy when he was still a candidate in 2022. He didn’t event consult the public when he announced its implementation — to a U.S. military official, not to the CNMI people. He has no mandate for a policy that has resulted in two wasted years of stagnation.
The delegate-elect campaigned on an issue she intends to pursue. She deserves the support of other CNMI officials.
The CNMI is not Guam
WE should stop comparing CNMI tourism with Guam’s much larger industry. Guam, for starters, has a significant and more permanent U.S. military presence, which dates back to 1898. Guam’s economy and population are the largest in Micronesia. Guam is also the air transportation hub of the region.
And unlike the CNMI under this unfortunately feckless administration, Guam has not turned its back on a major tourism market, China. Neither did several other U.S. jurisdictions on the mainland and even Hawaii, which hosts major U.S. military bases.
In any case, until the tourist arrival rates improve and/or a new legitimate major investor comes in, we will be in a world of economic pain.
The CNMI, clearly, has to do something different from what the administration has been doing (badly) for the past two years.
A virtual dependence on a single market (Korea); chasing after a market that is less than a shadow of its former self (Japan); tapping new markets that will take years to produce results, if they produce results at all; and begging for more U.S. handouts and a larger military presence while pushing for tax and fee hikes — these are the governor’s preferred and fruitless policies.
To quote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another.”
The CNMI desperately needs a fresh approach.
