NMI’s hydra-headed monster

The NMI’s hydra-headed monster is disconnection among the elected elite with urgent issues that have adversely and steadily affected villagers. This is accompanied by disorientation and fragmentation. Those who tried braving the difficult landscape of commonsense have retired to picking their pug nose, sighing for answers.

The mounting familial hardship met with apathy from imperial Capital Hill doesn’t offer much hope for the multitude. It’s sickening waiting for fully thought-out decisions on issues of significance that apparently have been sleepwalked by “our” representatives. The least they could have done is pretend they’re doing something to give institutional legitimacy to their offices.

There’s cluelessness in what the basic documents say, e.g., Covenant Agreement and the NMI Constitution. Include the willful scrapping of the voice of the people in a plebiscite, taxation, exodus of investments, efficacy of the Qualifying Certificates, the lack of a blueprint to revive the local economy, lease of public land, and geopolitical implications on regional security, among others.

The call for a second political status negotiation is a mutual consent provision to which our half-cocked men of wisdom are, again, clueless. If you want changes to the current agreement it means U.S. Congressional approval to federal law or U.S. PL 96-240. Otherwise, there’s nothing up that alley other than grand exercise in futility. Better yet, let’s do internal review how you’ve bankrupted the NMI government. We could very well learn, in humility, the very essence of self-government!

Investment exodus in recent past took with it some $7 billion from the islands. Add the shutter of the apparel industry and the figure is closer to $10 billion. Did you explore the root cause of this investment evacuation? If so, what was the cause of the exodus? Did you employ leadership to begin replacing significant revenue losses? What were those measures and how much did it turn into the local coffers? Or was this treated with the usual mañana where nothing was done thus the insolvency of the NMI?

Then came the new though infamous Qualifying Certificate (QC) law intended to lure more investments into the NMI. Has anyone seriously monitored the efficacy of this law to determine that in fact it has spurred investments, therefore, more new sources of revenue? Or was it ignored altogether?

Audit of QC: May I officially request of the Office of the Public Auditor and Attorney General’s Office to review and audit how has this law helped the NMI. We must insist for information on who were given QCs, how much tax breaks were given, how much was their tax contribution into the local treasury, are they still here or have sold their interest and left, among others.

May we hear whether in fact this law is helpful or counterproductive or largely negative in its intent, requires serious overhaul or repeal altogether? Must have this information before we continue the usual blind leading the blind syndrome in perpetuity.

Even before the actual heavy loss in revenues, it should have dawned on the elected elite that other than rebuilding from the devastation of a storm that the NMI needs fiscal preparedness running in tandem. Did we do this and if so, was it based on a fully thought-out set of plans? Or have we relegated it to ad hoc planning (eventualities) versus the actual planning for our future?

Warped Generosity: With the deepening fiscal crisis why did you limit casino license to one? Why did legislators omit taxing “soft counting” in the casino? The combined fees and tax would have helped the NMI meet its mounting obligations now mired in insolvency land. Did the NMI also extend QC to its favorite business ally? Where’s this “integrated resort” plan so we could review it thoroughly? Use of our land mandates our input full square! No more waltzing with chicanery.

It takes leadership to get the job done. Trust me, it can be done with a bit of vision and creativity. Otherwise, the fiscal crisis would deepen beyond resuscitation only to find out how you’ve dug the NMI’s grave into wider and deeper hole. Or is the greater problem one of sclerotic management—incapable of adapting to change—in new ideas and approaches?

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Development usually follows emplacement of basic infrastructure like water, power, sewer and roads. These projects are funded per availability of funds. Not sure how quickly we could work on CIP emplacement when we’ve already started dipping into this fund to pay CUC.

At least it grants the NMI the opportunity to pull the reins of growth so it resets it buttons to attain equilibrium. Let’s have growth at our own pace. It the direct participation of the indigenous people not politicians who are usually clueless and disconnected to significant issues!

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Momentarily, I thought there was a blizzard on Tinian until I read details of the story where some eight people were arrested for peddling shabu. What about the Saipan supplier? Shouldn’t this guy be arrested so he joins his salesmen in DOC review where the plan went off the rails?

Sorry, there’s no room here for a shrinking violet, sanctimonious diplomacy, or flatterer where I wilt for being overly deferential nor bludgeon you into agreement. But I speak my mind not to shut off conversation but to encourage meaningful discussion.

Review requisite basic documents for you will find that it “says what it says and doesn’t say what it doesn’t say”. It’s a good starting point so you don’t send us cringing in humiliation every other full moon. We’re still here and know when you missed the boat of rhyme and reason!