Group holds rally vs Torres administration

Members participating in the NMI Citizens for Change’s assembly last Friday display signs to passing drivers at the Garapan Fishing Base. This assembly sought for transparency in the government and solutions for ongoing issues such as the government austerity issues.
(MARC A. VENUS)

A peaceful assembly at the Garapan Fishing Base last Friday against the Torres administration drew about 40 participants that also saw the participation of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), and opposition lawmakers Rep. Edwin Propst (Ind-Saipan) and Rep. Christina Sablan (Ind-Saipan).

Participants held up signs along Beach Road, fronting the Kristo Rai Church. They were later given free T-shirts and posters.

The group, which called itself the NMI Citizens for Change and spearheaded by NMI Democratic Party chair Nola Hix, organized the assembly to, according to the group, find solutions to the administration’s lack of transparency, the ongoing government austerity measures, the issues surrounding Imperial Pacific International and the upcoming project of American Sinopan (CNMI) LLC.

Hix accused Gov. Ralph DLG Torres of a lack of action regarding IPI owing the CNMI government in taxes and that people in government are suffering due to the ongoing austerity measures.

She also said that, in the wake of Super Typhoon Yutu, people are suffering even more with the austerity measures, the delays in tax rebates, and that many are still recovering from the aftermath of the typhoon.

Rep. Christina Sablan said she supports the freedom and the right of citizens to peacefully assemble and the freedom of the group’s goal to ask the government for transparency.

She said that the CNMI needs more concerned citizens to speak up and share their concerns, so they can find a way to work with the government to find solutions.

A participant, who identified himself as a political moderate who voted for Torres in the last election, said that this was his first time to join an assembly like this. He said that he wanted to practice his First Amendment right by participating in a peaceful assembly.

“Just as it stands right now, economically, we are not at a good standpoint. …A lot of the decisions made by the government will ultimately affect us and the people have the opportunity to make changes with their right to vote,” he said.

In order for things to go well, everyone needs to work together, he said, in order to find a solution, especially with the ongoing austerity measures. “The time is ticking and it’s time for us to be well aware about what’s going on in the community,” he said.

According to Hix, the NMI Citizens for Change will continue to hold these assemblies every austerity Fridays until the order to end the austerity measures have been implemented. Hix said the group is open to a response from Torres.

The group’s motto is #RiseUPCNMI; it describes itself as a “grassroots organization.”