Misdirected anger

Recently Frank M. Atalig of Rota wrote an impassioned letter pleading for help with the cost of shipping goods to Rota. In it, Mr. Atalig levied some complaints against shipping companies for allegedly “milking us with their practices.”

I appreciate Mr. Atalig’s direct treatment of the issue and believe that a plainspoken reply is in order.

In today’s environment, transporting goods to Rota is a losing proposition. Traffic, meaning the volume of cargo moving in and out of Rota, is low. The cost of our operation to Rota is not covered by the volume of cargo going into or going out from Rota. The economies of scale are simply not present at the moment and yet we continue our service to Rota even when the traffic volume doesn’t justify the run. We do this at a loss. Some of the puddle jumpers, the other milk-run operators, probably do the same thing; sometimes for a profit, sometimes at a loss. This is what some companies in the Commonwealth have done and will continue to do in the spirit of civic responsibility.

There are times, Mr. Atalig observes, when the weather is clear, but shippers still don’t come. To this I reply by saying the sky may be blue and the sun shining, but the swells even at two to three feet make it a challenge for our boats, which are directly exposed to waves coming in from the channel. Off-loading cargo is a challenge at the Rota Dock, which lacks equipment to handle some items like cars. Drive-on and drive-off items, like cars, are a challenge for us. There are vessels specifically designed for that kind of activity as you know.

I can tell that Mr. Atalig is angry and he should be, but it is misdirected anger. There are improvements that the government could have undertaken to improve access to the Rota dock over the years but they haven’t chosen to do this. I recommend that Mr. Atalig direct his anger at the elected leaders who should have given more thought to the socioeconomic development of Rota. Shippers are not responsible for the mass exodus of people from Rota or the Commonwealth in general. Shippers are not responsible for the high cost of fuel. Fuel cost is higher in the CNMI than just about everywhere in the United States. The same goes for power rates that we pay here on Saipan.

I respect your views and understand your frustration, no doubt shared by many others on Rota, but shippers cannot answer for the general deterioration of the economy on Rota or in the CNMI. I believe that the government can and should do more to improve the livelihoods of its citizens and that is where I think your considerable energy and talent should be directed.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to further your efforts in this regard.