Seeking balanced information on pozzolan issue

Do we have some more broadly-informed, open-minded people to provide balanced information regarding the pozzolan mining issue? It seems that the people of the CNMI need to hear details of all aspects of the debate in order to understand each position. We read about the real risks and concerns of businesses that want to undertake the mining project. But I also see a fair amount of personal attack in the papers. Slinging mud is kind of fun and it reveals the writers’ biases, but I don’t think attacks help the general public understand the issues that can critically affect their future.

As I understand, PaganWatch and many others in the CNMI want a larger share of pozzolan profits to go to the people than is proposed by the Sablan company. Where are the details of this position? How would that money benefit the CNMI and what is the assurance that the money would get to those services that need it? Are the Kaipats, the governor and others still the brave ones who are speaking out for the people of the CNMI?

I had the honor of living in the CNMI for four months this year while I worked with special education and CHC programs. I fell in love with the place and the people. The pozzolan issue intrigued me so I asked Representative Kaipat what she hoped could be done with the CNMI share of revenues. She talked about a new “state of the art” hospital so fewer patients will have to go off island, major improvements in the quality of public education and many other things. She also welcomed anyone to make an appointment to talk with her about her position on the pozzolan project as well as the history of the Sablan company’s preliminary work to date.

I read an opinion column in which Representative Kaipat’s motivations were characterized as greed. Greed is the last trait that would occur to me regarding the Kaipat family as I watched their volunteer involvement and leadership in one community activity after another while I was in the CNMI, from the Flame Tree Festival to the Micronesian Games. They don’t get paid for what they do. Representative Kaipat does not get paid for her work with students at NMC and the Beautify CNMI Project. As a public servant she certainly doesn’t earn a fraction of what she could get as an attorney in private practice.

I certainly appreciate a legitimate challenge to the position of one’s opposition. But “greed” and Cinta Kaipat don’t fit in the same sentence.

I wish that the pozzolan issue didn’t remind me of mainland U.S. politics: the guys with big money use scare tactics to quiet the noble opposition. I hope that doesn’t happen in the CNMI. I wish this issue didn’t remind me of the U.S. government deals allowing decades of token amounts to be paid by big mining and lumber companies to lease public lands. These companies make multi-millions from these mining operations. The citizens of the U.S. benefit not at all, but they are often left with land forever scarred by the mining and logging operations.

The CNMI has the opportunity to do better than that. Imagine a win-win collaboration between the people and the mining company. All could be proud of the improvements in services that result from nature’s gift to the Northern Mariana Islands.