Failing due diligence! Again?

It’s no longer bizarre how the boys on the hill approved the casino industry as its signature achievement. But was any thought given to a U.S. Labor Department legal mandate that hiring of foreign workers (now lumped to national needs) must be replaced over the next five years?

The so-called $7-billion integrated resort—however delusional (triggered by internal lack of due diligence)—would need at least 6,300-plus workers. The single biggest Chinese investment was the recent purchase of Waldorf Astoria in New York with 1,300 rooms at the cost of $1.9 billion.

This is the setback you run into when you brave running off the ranch without engaging in thoughtful planning process or due diligence. Do we do another mea culpa with Uncle Sam when he’s given us sufficient warning to watch how we drive around the thousand feet curve?

Sustainability of Saipan casino
There could be the slight chance that our men of wisdom must have read a report on the sustainability of the Saipan casino attached to the new law as part of its history.

What did the report say as the targeted market to lure wealthy players? Didn’t the Chinese government just recently start purging corruption of the industry in Macau against junket tours partly comprised of the triad? In brief, it’s a serious effort to stop the transfer of money from China proper to Macau and elsewhere.

Did the market report include a thorough review of who would be our most serious competitor? Doesn’t this include Macau itself, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines and Tokyo in the next two years? Without wealthy players, how do we ensure sustaining the operations of the Saipan casino?

Just the fact that you secured a license without the land and other collateral issues fully intact is seemingly the perfect recipe for failure. Did you folks seriously consider the mandate from U.S. Homeland Security that the NMI replaces guest workers in the next five years?

These are issues you’ve overlooked that are factually thought provoking and troubling, if not humiliating, how you all dashed off the ranch without your guns, spurs, saddles and horses. Or did you only have your suspect sling shot, dull and rusty spear gun?

Must reassess our journey
Calmly, I’d revisit the quicksand of inconsistency in what we spout that includes indigenous issues and half-baked claims of self-government.

Interesting how we still use Uncle Sam as the All Purpose Whipping Boy as we vent frustrations over everything that has gone wrong in paradise.

Now, self-government pertains to our participation in the daily operations of government here. It includes ensuring the NMI lives within its financial means. It’s broke or bankrupt! Who was sleeping on the switchboard? Was it Uncle Sam or indigenous leadership?

The afternoon snooze went on as to ignore paying government debts to CUC. The federal court took charge of issues where CUC failed. Now, CIP funds would be used to meet court-ordered payments. Did Uncle Sam fail to pay the bill on time?

We had a retirement fund now known as the “settlement fund,” ditched into bankruptcy by politicians. It went to court and the judge said it must be paid accordingly per a schedule of payment.

Politicians simply refused to give CHC the needed funds for its operations of some $38 million per year. I’m leery that the feds would slowly take over CHC to protect our people. Hey! Uncle Sam has gone past his wake-up call! Tell him there’s a pandemic of dead neurons in the ER hailing from Crapital Hill!

Shifting sands of Marpi land
The brewing political warfare on the disposition of the Marpi land (where Kan Pacific is situated) has taken on various twists and turns. It has gone from money-focused position as the basis of “in the best interest of the indigenous landowners,” violation of a partnership and investment stability of the NMI to a “deal or no deal” seesaw exchange by former and current legislators versus Best Sunshine.

The administration’s goal is to sustain BS’ planned investment per the casino law versus the scarcity of contiguous land up north and other collateral setbacks. Former and current lawmakers are rumored to be dangling a $70 million offer to BS to pacify KP so it forfeits the balance of its lease and leave quietly and permanently, too. So we begin to see the morphing from “indigenous best interest” to “my fees.” Deal?

Does KP know of the deal by Da Boys? Curious too if the boys in the administration haven’t been whispering to BS behind its fully shield curtain “we guarantee you the Marpi land.” The deal—whichever way it morphs—is farcical. The new epidermis is known as pachyderm that has its origin on the hill.

The best approach is to turn the matter over to an investment commission whose task is to fully study any and all future uses of indigenous land for investment purposes. Has the foreign-investment paradigm worked? Take a closer ocular review!

For instance, UMDA has sold Laulau Bay to KUMHO. The latter has sold it to another group. In other words, they sell when the market looks dim. Where does it leave indigenous landowners? Moreover, why would public land be appraised as raw land where developments already exist? This regressive policy must change! Why must indigenous landowners settle for $3 per square meter when the current land value is over $80?

SSHS windmill
Some eight months ago an alternative energy engineer visited the Saipan Southern High School windmill project. He’s of the view it won’t work without a battery or back-up system. Unfortunately, it would probably require some $150,000 to fix and have it operational. Does PSS have this sum to complete the project? Something’s got to be done lest it stays a bird’s nest, as is the case today. Sadly, there’s only one renewable energy engineer this side of the Pacific.