Economy: ‘Depends for you!’

Before the war, the Micronesian Islands had economic self-support, a Japanese success story “unlike any other” even after the atrocities of World War II, according to noted historian Fr. Fran Hezel, SJ, in a recent talk at Sophia University in Japan.

Japan proved that commercialization of sugar in the NMI was a successful economic venture. It pulled in the marketing of farm and fish products in the process.

By 1936, the NMI was exporting some 13 million yen of sugar annually or about $24 million a year in today’s dollar-yen rate. This doesn’t include revenue generated from farming and fishing. There was a huge market throughout cities in Japan. We could reasonably project that the total for all produce is about $30 million per year.

What are we exporting today?

None!

How much are we generating?

None!

Why hasn’t anything happened in these sectors since then?

Reset: The question is unfair against Uncle Sam and needs to be put into perspective for historic clarity.

Since the inception of our constitutional government in 1978, we didn’t want any federal government interference in our internal affairs. Uncle Sam stood back while consistently providing funds per the agreement for basic infrastructure.

The obligation to formulate an economic plan became the sole obligation of the NMI since 1978. Funds were made available for this purpose through CDA, SBA, and USDA.

Obviously, competent and visionary leadership was the missing link in this equation. There’s a need to initiate complimentary developmental programs in farming and fishing to supplement the tourism industry. It was ignored altogether since 40 years ago.

In 1993 we told the U.S. Congress “no more grant funds.” We had a healthy economy from the combined apparel and tourism industries in addition to healthy Nippon investments. Perhaps we boasted a bit prematurely. Shortly thereafter, the apparel industry was shuttered followed by the exit of major Japanese investments.

The exit of exogenous investments proved, time and again, the fragility of an island economy. Its seesaw swings as predictable as the super storm during the typhoon season. In other words, we never planned any of the wealth that we had in the ’90s. Recovery of billions of dollars in losses was left to float like driftwood in the deep blue.

Trust me, I sat in umpteen number of so-called leadership meetings where economic studies or plans were trashed and placed in shelves to gather dust. The plans, costing several million dollars, were never given a chance.

I was at a loss, knowing that, without a plan, there’s nothing to undertake that allows the NMI to move from point “A” to point “B.” Here we are today, still rolling on the mat of mañana, yawning. Isn’t good government measured by its economy? What’s ours?

Educated: It is very encouraging to see highly educated women enter the public domain to serve as representatives of “we the people.”

They include Sen. Terry Santos of Rota, a political science major from the University of Guam, Tina Sablan, another college graduate, and two other women whose last names are Babauta. I’ve heard them speak and their verbal facility and ability to articulate issues are a tale of their strength in putting issues into perspective in the discussion of substantive issues.

It isn’t a matter of pushing women’s power as much as the fact that these are “educated women” who could inject fully informed or educated discussion in both chamber. This should be a pleasant transition for “we the people.”

Heard also that Edward Maratita Jr. and Albert Taitano have thrown their names into the crowded Rota contest. Interesting that Maratita has boasted college credentials that begins to look like Christmas lights. Share with the voters the accredited U.S. institutions where you secured your JD and other Ds? It certainly needs verification so voters could assess your background and the legitimacy of your claims.

Taitano must explain his role in the near-successful agenda allegedly pushing a reported $3 million power generator sale to CUC for $11 million. Could you share who’s behind this scheme? Recalled reading of a lie going around the world twice before truth could tie its bootstraps! People, ever heard of the term integrity?

Elsewhere, it’s bad seeking re-entry into public office if you’re an incumbent, especially a GOP incumbent. Your super performance, raising your salaries by 80 percent when more than half the workers are stuck in poverty income level isn’t going to fly anywhere. In fact, it’s a self-placed bomb in the campaign trail you’d be visiting sooner than later.