Tinian revelations

Thank you so very much for the series of articles about Tinian written by Stefan Sebastian. They include so many revelations for the people of Tinian that it may take some days to digest each of them.

One of the biggest is the announcement that last month the mayor’s staff met with Marianas Public Land Trust officials in a bid to gain a $1.3-million loan to construct a new market complex.

The last thing Tinian needs is another Farmers Market. Tinian has had one for ever and a $50,000 manger who is supposed to be marketing local produce. We don’t need another.

I say revelation because the people of Tinian never have any idea what the mayor and his rubber stamp legislative delegation and municipal council are up to until after we read it in the paper.

Last year we were surprised to learn that the mayor and the delegation had obligated our annual federal Community Development Block Grant to build a new pavilion at Natibu Park, when we already have an excellent pavilion at Kammer Beach. No one in the “community” was ever asked. The “community” within the mayor’s office just made up their own minds and did it without a public hearing. Perhaps our DOI representative can find out if the Community Development Block Grant system allows elected officials to take unilateral action without public input.

On the issue of an additional Farmers Market for Tinian, perhaps Stefan can call Mayor San Nicolas personally, if he is on island, and ask for a copy of his new marketing plan in support of his loan request.

No doubt there is none, just as there was none for the mayor’s late great Noni project. During his campaign for mayor, San Nicolas promised to make Tinian rich from Noni. As soon as he was elected, he proceeded to plant 25,000 Noni plants on Tinian public land, including the elementary school campus and along the Broadway Boulevard. The problem was he had no marketing plan. Today, the Noni plants are mature and producing. Still, there is still no marketing plan and no money being created to repay the Tinian Municipal Fund.

The idea of building a new Farmers Market is nothing more than another empty promise to the people of Tinian and another opportunity for the mayor to hand out a construction contract in return for personal benefits within the mayor’s office.

What Tinian needs is for the mayor’s office, the Tinian delegation and the municipal council to focus on getting the airport operational and moving the dump. These are required for the development of the casino industry. The hotel, casino, golf course developers are ready to move, if only Tinian’s elected officials will focus on the real needs of Tinian.