Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can do it!

YES, WE CAN DO IT! We are going to turn our depressed economy around. We are all going to engage in building it by rolling up our sleeves and getting down to work. This morning I am going to be very frank with ourselves. No, I am not going to complain but simply ask why we aren’t doing much to help ourselves. George Washington once stated: “The love of my country will be the ruling influence of my conduct.” What is our ruling influence?

We will begin by farming and growing the best fruits and vegetables. As I have mentioned before we are blessed with good soil which mainly is laying fallow. We have discussed that the reason why this agriculture land is not being farmed is that we have not tried to export our produce anywhere. Instead we prefer to import much of what we can grow ourselves here. But that is about to change because action is being taken to create a means of shipping goods out of the CNMI to Guam.

My associates are working to create an air cargo bridge between Saipan, 
Tinian, Rota an Guam to export all the farm produce we can grow. The plan also includes a means of bringing to our islands goods that are too expensive and too infrequently shipped into our islands.

This ability to transport our goods to market will greatly motivate us to produce. Instead of exporting dollars, we will be importing them in exchange for the produce we will grow here. We will and must reverse the current trend of exporting our dollars. And all of us by investing in this venture and in ourselves will result in a YES! WE CAN DO IT SITUATION!

When I meet people who anxiously hope that the plan will successfully materialize, I also meet some who are negative about it. I ask them why. Their reply is that they do not feel that our people will not grow sufficient produce to export. They feel that our people will not strive for success. They state that we are too lazy and spoiled. In other words, there is little faith in ourselves. This is quite discouraging to hear. But frankly, I refuse to believe it. Yes, We can do it!

You have heard me asking us, the local people, to invest in the Arctic Circle Air Company. No, I am not asking foreign investors. Why? Because I want us to be vested in ownership of a business. By becoming vested we will have more of an incentive to produce and become interested in becoming economically strong. Until we take matters into our own hands, we will never become economically strong. A strong nation has strong and willing hard-working citizenry. It does not depend on outside investors except to compliment its own investors.

Tell me one investment in which we, the local people, own shares in. Do we have shares in any of the hotels, golf courses, the Tinian Dynasty, any other foreign investor venture? Why don’t we?

We keep inviting foreign investors daily and what do we get for it? When are we going to step up and become investors in our own country? We must become investors and entrepreneurs of our own local enterprises. Consider the idea below.

As I write this I am thinking of a great local investment that lies just across from the Palms Hotel—the closed La Fiesta Mall. What if instead of searching for outside investors, we do it ourselves. Let’s say it takes $3,000,000.00 to completely overhaul. We should be able to raise two to three millions dollars from within ourselves. There are people here with money. The rest of the money can be borrowed from banks, the CDA, and other lending institutions. We can use the mall property as collateral. We can even ask several foreign investors to invest up to 49 percent! But we will retain 51 percent controlling interest.

Then we go to Macy’s, Sears and other major brand name companies offering them space to retail their products. Set up an amusement center to attract tourists. Offer shows featuring local talent. If we like include video-gambling, etc. And the exciting thing about all of this—we, the locals, own and operate it. Think about it. Is this such a crazy idea? If we want to, WE CAN DO IT!

When the air cargo venture starts, Saipan will offer its products. Tinian will offer its products. Rota will offer its products. Think of all the people engaged in working to produce. The islands will come alive with our people bending elbows working together for a common good—to jumpstart our sagging economy. We must stop depending on handouts from governments and the crumbs thrown to us by investors. If we proclaim that this is our land and our country, we must work it. Work it—or lose it! We must decide!

Why aren’t we bidding to operate the COP golf course ourselves? Money is available. Aren’t we capable of operating it? Are outsiders that much more intelligent and capable than we? Well, I don’t think so. Then why are we are selling ourselves so cheaply? WE CAN DO IT! SO LET’S DO IT!

We run our government and decide on budgets and operate various services such as the CUC and the CHC, regardless of how badly they are operated, yet we do. So what is the difference if we operate and invest in our own activities?

Every major company starts small and grows until it becomes a huge corporation. For example, I have started several companies that people told me would certainly fail. Some have, but some have not. It is more important to try and fail than to not have tried. Even failure is 50 percent success. With a little more determination and push we can succeed.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed about having a dream, I too have one. I want to see more locally owned businesses. I want to see our local workforce building our roads and buildings. I want to see our land produce bountiful crops to feed us and to export to our neighbors. I want to see our local citizens become owners and investors in our local enterprises. I want to see our youth come back and take control of our assets. I want us to stand tall with pride at the things we can do when we want to.

Forgive my sermonizing but unless we take control of our own resources, we will always stand in line with our hands outstretched for a handout. We have great opportunities. As a starter, invest in and work with me and my staff on the air cargo venture and the slaughterhouse. Let’s use the fertile soil to feed thousands of people and ourselves. Once that becomes successful, let’s venture into some others which will be owned and operated by us. YES, WE CAN DO IT!

Sometime today stand in front of a mirror and as we look at the reflection, let’s be honest and tell ourselves that we can do it if we truly want to. As George Washington stated: “The love of my country will be the ruling influence of my conduct.” What will be our ruling influence? Let’s do it! Let’s become investors and entrepreneurs in our own land.

God bless us all. Have a great day!