Aquaculture, science, and self-reliance

The project is the San Vicente Aquaculture Science and Self-Reliance Project. Aquaculture and science go together, but what does self-reliance have to do with it? A keynote speaker at an award ceremony for the National Science Foundation told teachers that it would not be possible to train enough scientists. Between 2003 and 2005 there were 1.9 million college graduates in different science fields (Nation Science Foundation statistics) and most were easily placed in science related jobs. As these 1.9 million scientists begin working, they create more science related jobs as new discoveries require more research, and applications require skilled scientists to operate and maintain systems and equipment. As students learn science, they are gaining knowledge that has the potential to make them self-reliant by being highly employable.

The San Vicente project is being funded by the Administration for Native Americans, which is under the Department of Human Health Services, the federal agency that receives more tax dollars than any other agency. The department of Human Health Services has eight strategic goals and goal No. 6 is “Improve the economic and social well-being of individuals, families, and communities, especially those most in need.” In other words to help the people who are the least self-reliant to become self-reliant. Not only will San Vicente students be learning skills to become self-reliant through employment; their families will be raising their own food and starting their own businesses. A benchmark of success of this program will be self-reliant families supporting themselves and their community.

ANA funds projects, not programs. Programs that are federally funded require the funding from the federal government in order to continue; they are not self-sustaining. Projects, on the other hand, must either be complete at the end of the project period or self-sustaining. To receive ANA funding the project must explain how it will be self-sustaining by the end of the project period. ANA also requires commitments from the community because experience has shown that without community support, projects do not become self-sustaining or self-reliant. The San Vicente Aquaculture Science and Self-Reliance project has 15 letters of commitment from different business and individuals on Saipan. Two of the organizations that are directly related to the self-reliance aspect of the project are the Boy Scouts of America Troop 913, and the Commonwealth Development Authority.

The Boys Scouts have demonstrated their commitment to the project by cleaning and painting the aquaculture tanks after they were damaged by two typhoons. The Boy Scout motto is “Be prepared.” Boy Scouts are taught to be self reliant by being prepared. They practice this on their monthly campouts where they do not have mom or dad cooking for them, cleaning up after them, or any of the comforts provided by electric or electronic appliances. Boy Scouts are expected to show up at the campouts with everything they need to survive during the campout in their backpacks. The Boy Scouts participating in the aquaculture project become role models and they also recruit new members.

The Commonwealth Development Authority’s mission is “to provide economic loan funds to private and public sectors for economic development.” Note that they provide loans, not grants, for the purpose of stimulating economic development. It is very likely that CDA will have the opportunity to receive federal stimulus money to jumpstart the CNMI economy along with the rest of the United States. A particular point made by President Obama to the agencies receiving these funds is that they must be accountable. To receive the funds the agencies must use the SMART principle:

S = Specific: Specific as to how the funds will be used.

M = Measureable: What tool will be used to measure the results (number of new business, increase in income)

A = Achievable: Is it possible to achieve the desired results.

R = Realistic: Given the circumstances and economic conditions, are the goals realistic.
T = Time: Specific times must be specific as to when the expected results will be achieved.

Any money given to CDA from the federal government will require that these principles be followed. Banks receiving stimulus money will also be required to follow the SMART principles; however, they have a big advantage over CDA in that they can make loans to low-risk customers. A requirement for receiving a CDA loan is a rejection letter from a local bank for the proposed business. Even with the burden of only financing high risk loans, CDA must demonstrate accountability by earning interest on their loans, so that earned income can be used to finance other economic development activities. CDA’s commitment to the San Vicente Aquaculture and Self-Reliance project is to assist community members interested in starting their own aquaculture or farming business. They will provide counseling and assistance in writing business plans, and they will fund the well-written plans. People interested in starting their own aquaculture related business should contact CDA, or Pete Arriola, the project outreach manager, who will act as a liaison between CDA and the project community.

As the former President John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” As members of the Saipan community become more self-reliant there will be fewer people asking the government to take care of them with jobs and other assistance, and more people taking care of themselves as well as their brothers and sisters in their communities. [B](San Vicente Aquaculture Science and Self-Reliance management team)
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