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CNMI Politics
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Posted on May 01 2009
In an article titled, “Nearly half of NMI government agencies flunk OGA test,” the Saipan Tribune reports that only 12 of the 27 government agencies tested for compliance with the Open Government Act provided the documents requested. The OGA calls for government agencies to conduct their meetings openly, make records available to the public, and to reply to requests for information within 10 days. The purpose of the OGA is for people to trust government officials and know how and what they do with taxpayers’ money. Why are the 15 government agencies refusing to give the documents being asked for? This only shows that they are either hiding something or that they are not aware of the OGA. Why do we have government officials and employees who are not aware of the Open Government Act? Being that they are employed by the government, they themselves should be aware of the law.
Government is made by the people. We the people of the CNMI should be more aware of what is going on within our government. Without people, and most especially citizen participation, there is no government. In addition, the government agencies should not refuse to give us any information. I would think that the reason why they would not give the documents requested is because they are afraid of losing their job. It is plain CNMI politics.
