A hunger that couldn’t wait

We saw this week the flocks of voters converging on the Multi-Purpose Center to cast their votes early beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 28. I would like to think that people decided to cast their votes early because we are so desperate for change! They couldn’t wait to place their ballot in the box to affect change for a brighter, happier, equitable and sound future for us all.

The need for improvements in every aspect of our lives has created a hunger that couldn’t wait, being so terribly disrespected by our elected officials who have completely ignored their promises to us when they took office to provide for a healthier, safer, and sounder government.

These are the same officials who felt it was OK to disregard our intentions on the legislative initiatives that were placed on the ballot twice; and the people defeated the initiatives twice. Still these same elected officials decided it was OK to pass bill into law that directly contradicted the will of the voting public.

We must vote for leaders with integrity, leaders who ask what we want and listen, and create policy and legislations that coincides with the public’s demand.

That said, as an independent candidate, a man of the people, I have chosen to stand up and demand that we follow the will of the people.

I chose to be an independent candidate because I believe that the social, economic and financial injustices that have plagued our islands can only be corrected when we work with honor and integrity.

We have to support our youth with healthy, creative, and learning situations outside of school for them to truly blossom and become our new leaders. We must afford our youth a safe place to develop friendships, exercise, and explore our heritage in a supportive environment. Hopefully guided by our trusted man’amko so that we can continue to perpetuate our heritage.

We must keep our neighborhoods clean, rodent- and insect-free, safe, and viable for a healthier community. This just requires some planning to coordinate in partnership with our neighborhood businesses and our non-government organizations such as the Neighborhood Watch.

It is important for us to know our neighbors, to know how they think, to know who they are, and to know what they need—this is what we call a community!

To this end, we have not yet achieved even the basics of a cooperative community—a community where we all participate, a community where collaboration with your neighbors and the businesses works to serve all of our needs.

We must be able to walk freely down the streets in our community without being afraid of stray dogs, burglars, drug dealers, or rapist, to list a few. We must be able to sleep comfortably with our windows open, and know that our loved ones and our belongings are safe. We must be able to enjoy our homes during the rainy season without the threat of being washed away in a flood and losing most, if not all, of our sentimental possessions.

As your independent candidate, I am free to work in a bipartisan environment to ensure that the issues that have been ignored for decades can now be addressed with the best possible outcome for all.

As your independent candidate, I am not held to any recognized party’s platforms or agenda of anyone but my constituents. It is fundamental that the concerns of the residents of Precinct 2 are addressed quickly and effectively for the benefit of all.

Now is the time for us to take action to bring about equality, socio-economic change, and prosperity into every home for every citizen in the CNMI to benefit.

I am grateful for your support on Oct. 19 during our small but successful gathering. It was an opportunity to meet and hear many of your concerns so that I can address them when I am elected into office on Nov. 4.

Vicente ‘Ben’ Aldan Ichihara
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan