Reenergizing the economy from within

Today let’s face some hard facts about how to help ourselves and also reenergize the economy. For some of us the only salvation seems to be that we have to sell our morals, dignity, and become pimps. To those people, outside investors are the only solutions. But let’s look inside the CNMI and discover the energy and potential that surround us.

The CNMI has thousands of acres of untilled soil ready for a booming agriculture industry. There are tons of produce and fruit that we can grow year round. But then to some of us, farming is not sexy like casinos and marijuana growing. For those of us who believe like this, read the July 11 issue of Time Magazine about farming in the U.S. It is booming and farmers are becoming wealthy and are producing tons and tons of food for themselves and the world. Our fertile land is like a mother feeding her children, never tired but always willing to give. Yet we sit on the same acres of diamonds and “cannot see the trees for the forest.”

With the development of an air cargo bridge, we will be able to transport our goods to Guam, which is a huge market for our produce and fruits. As mentioned before, Guam imports over $4.4 million per month of fresh produce, fruits, cut flowers, pork, and other fresh commodities. We haven’t even discussed the fish market. We have a professional fishing company on Saipan with several large fishing vessels. They can supply tons of fish caught in local waters but how to get them to Guam? Only with an air cargo bridge.

We are only a few minutes away from a gigantic market. Please study with me and my group how viable this venture can become. What a splendid opportunity lies waiting for us. Think about the opportunity to become one family after so many years of separation. Only by joining hands in economic cooperation, Guam and the CNMI can truly become partners and good neighbors.

Everyday while driving around the island, I notice several construction sites underway. If I am not mistaken, about 99.9 percent of the workers are non-locals. They work hard and do good work. But what if we were to turn that around and have 99.9 percent local employees?

Consider 500 local laborers earning an average of $900 per month. This amounts to $450,000 per month but times 12 months will equal $5.4 million salaries paid to local people. Consider the amount of money that would remain in the CNMI for circulation in the community and for taxes. Instead of paying that amount to non-local workers, which is then exported to their home countries with little benefit to us, we keep it local. Why can’t we implement this? Are we too lazy to work in construction?

Imagine the fewer number of people who will not have to stand in line for food stamps but proudly be earning a living with their hands and heart. Yes, we must give those jobs to our people. We must change our present state of having nonresident workers do our work. No, I am not against nonresident workers. I respect and appreciate their hard work and loyalty, but it is time to put our own people to work. If they don’t want to work, then discontinue their food stamps. It is called “tough love.”

Another method to creating jobs is to protect our fledging businesses and industries from unfair foreign competition. As most countries do to protect their fledging industries, I strongly recommend the government impose an import duty on any product that can be produced locally. As an example, we grow bananas. If an importer desires to import bananas, an import duty of perhaps 20 to 25 percent can be imposed. This money will go to the general fund while also giving an incentive to our banana farmers to grow more bananas.

By imposing an import duty to protect our fledging industries, our people will be motivated to create and grow more local products. The tax imposed will go to the general fund. This is standard practice for many countries, including the United States. As a result we lessen the amount of money we export and circulate it in our community. Think about it!

It seems strange that a great silence has fallen on the rich ore deposits of pozzolan that lie a few miles north of us. We seem to have strangely forgotten all about it and go rushing off into another direction. If the island does really possess this rich ore of pozzolan, it is like gold and should be quickly mined and sold abroad. What is the problem? The discussion has been going on for years. Why are we overlooking this opportunity? The market is still available.

Can it be that we do not understand how business operates on the world markets? If that is the case then let’s turn these opportunities over to people who know how to operate them for us, but with us as partners. Think of the income this dormant opportunity offers us. Why are we ignoring it while crying that we have no resources?

Let’s discuss what we consider our most important industry in the CNMI—tourism. Why are the tourist numbers dropping? Is it the world recession? Are the other tourist spots suffering as much as we are? Why is Guam not having this problem of drop in tourism? Why is Hawaii not having the same problem? Why are more and more tourists going to Palau instead of coming to us?

Specifically what are we doing to beautify our islands to make them more attractive so that when our guests go home, they either want to return or speak favorably about their visit to us? Are we really pushing programs motivating and educating our people to welcome our guests?

Do we have any bed and breakfast homes? Briefly a bed and breakfast home is one in which a family opens their home to tourists. In this manner tourists get to stay in local homes while enjoying a closer friendship with local people. Of course the family gets paid for their services. This could offer an extra income to the family while enjoying and sharing their warm hospitality with foreign guests.

Some people have mentioned that the CNMI could become a center for foreign students to study English and other subjects in preparation for going to American colleges or simply mastering English studies. This would be done while living in a beautiful tropical island. I commend the Eucon School that is quietly doing exactly this. What a clean and golden opportunity we are turning our noses up at. We could become a center for international studies. Come on, think about this potential.

Yes, weekly I keep rambling about the opportunities that are around us. No, I don’t know the answers, but we must keep seeking for opportunities. I am offering suggestions. I am sure you know some other ways and means better than I do. Let’s look around and see what others are doing. We cannot simply just give up and say there is nothing we can do but just get deeper and deeper in a depression. NO! I do not want to believe it and will not.

If anybody is willing to get together and discuss activities on how to help ourselves and improve our economy, I welcome that person to call me and meet and toss ideas around. My cell is 287-8310.

Where there is a will, there is a way! Let’s do it! Let’s get off our buts (excuses) and do it!