The ‘I don’t know’ governor

I have never seen a governor who has mastered the response of “I don’t know” whenever a question is directed to him, and when to say it. I have also never seen a governor who does not understand the phrase “the buck stops here” as pertaining to the position he holds. Let me give you some examples.

When Gov. Eloy S. Inos orchestrated the termination of Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero some months ago, he was asked by the media whether he had any knowledge about it and his response was, “I don’t know.”

When Inos offered former lieutenant governor Diego Benavente the job to replace Deleon Guerrero, and masterminded the runarounds including a board action reducing the position’s qualifications, again he was asked by the media whether he had any knowledge about it and his response was an absolute, “I don’t know.”

When Inos put former governor Juan N. Babauta before a firing squad at the Commonwealth Health Center board for purely political reasons, he was asked again by the media whether he had any knowledge about it, his response was “I don’t know.”

When Inos was busy working behind the scenes for the impeachment of former governor Benigno R. Fitial, he was asked by the media again whether he had any knowledge about it, his response was a definite “I don’t know.”

Given the above historical pattern of responses of “I don’t know,” I would like to surmise that he had no knowledge of his appointment of attorney Ramon Quichocho for judge, his firing of DCCA Secretary Melvin Faisao, CRM administrator Rita Camacho Chong, Indigenous Affairs executive director Ike Deleon Guerrero Demapan, Thomas Babauta Castro, 74, employee of the Division of Agriculture, and Dr. John Joyner, among others casualties.

He also had no knowledge about the plight of thousands of retirees who have lost 25 percent of their hard earned pensions.

And, I suspect that he has no knowledge about the most damaging and destructive impact of the As Gonno Chinese double homicide as it relates to the security and public safety of our community and our fragile tourism industry. He has yet to say even a word about it! We need to go after those who committed these merciless killings with all our might…we must clean up our islands of the root causes of these activities, particularly if they are drug related.

And I will bet you he has no knowledge about the decision of our Saipan Mayor Donald A. Flores to abandon the Inos/Torres group forever.

And also he has no knowledge about his duty as chief executive on extradition issues, which tells us that he does not want to have anything to do with it! If Gov. Inos does not know anything about the $190 million power plant deal or any other things, why should he be afraid about requesting extradition that is clearly part of his executive power? Why the reluctance, is he in a conflict of interest? Governor, please stop passing the buck around! This buck stops at your desk!

In all my life under a democratic form of government, I have never seen a governor who has ruthlessly purged and massacred so many of his own people in so short a time, which reminds me of the many similarities of North Korean dictatorial tyrant Kim Jong Un’s modus operandi! Most especially when the election of the governor is just around the corner. Which begs the question: is Gov. Inos really serious about running for governor?

And last but not least, does Gov. Inos know that he is very sick to be holding the highest and most important constitutional office in our land and compromising our people’s interest? If he does not know, the voters can help him decide come this November election!

Juan S. Demapan
San Vicente, Saipan