EDITOR’S NOTE

Today’s issue of Saipan Tribune comes with a special supplement called, “At Your Service,” which we deemed necessary because some government agencies, autonomous agencies, or non-profit organizations need to update the public on what they have been doing that benefit the public’s welfare.

Some government agencies are front and center when it comes to their public roles, like the Department of Finance or the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., so almost everyone knows the agency and have a fairly good inkling of what the agency is doing. Yet there are still aspects of their operation that could benefit from more exposure. Take the Public School System. The public is well aware of many of the accomplishments of PSS and their significant role in the public’s lives, yet there are still many aspects of PSS that remain esoteric, like the role federal funding plays in its daily operation, staffing needs, its assets and liabilities, etc.

There are also some groups whose purpose cater to a niche demographic, like the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or agencies that mostly operate behind the scenes, like the Office of the Attorney General, who must be more forthright with what they have accomplished in order for the public to be aware and gain an understanding of these agencies when it comes to their roles in helping the public good. It would be a gross mischaracterization to say that DPL is just all about public lands. There’s also the homestead programs, the development of government-owned real estate, etc. Even the Marianas Visitors Authority, which is one of the more well-known government agencies, has some aspects of its operation that could benefit from some exposure. As for the Division of Youth Services, what does it actually do? These and more are questions that this supplement aims to shed light on and we hope this goal is accomplished somewhat.

Journalism has its own “sunshine policy” and it’s all about transparency and open governance. This is because it is a basic tenet in journalism that a transparent government is an accountable government that is responsive to the needs of more people and will benefit more. We hope that this supplement lends itself to that illustrious principle.

Jayvee Vallejera
Editor, Saipan Tribune