‘Localization initiative should come from the elected officials’

Longtime businessman Anthony Pellegrino called on elected officials in the CNMI to direct people to work more toward “localization” to achieve economic success.

“You got to show that you lead by example,” Pellegrino told Saipan Tribune after the screening of The Economics of Happiness, the featured documentary film at the First Friday Films shown at the American Memorial Park last Jan. 6.

A film by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick, and John Page, The Economics of Happiness “offers not only a big-picture analysis of globalization, but a powerful message of hope for the future. The thinkers and activists we interviewed for the film. argue that a systemic shift-away from globalizing economic activity and toward the local-is an almost magic formula that allows us to reduce our ecological footprint while increasing human well-being.”

Pellegrino pointed out that the Commonwealth has vast resources that it can utilize and bring income to the community. He said that if people can line up for food stamps, then they could also spend time working on these natural resources.

But Pellegrino noted that it would be difficult to change the mindsets of the people, and this is where the role of the government, particularly the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the Legislature, comes in.

“Let’s motivate our own people,” Pellegrino said, adding that the government should encourage the community to do productive activities like farming rather than “parasitic” pursuits such as gambling.

Pellegrino expressed optimism that endeavors such as the Cargo Air Bridge, which aims to stimulate the local agricultural industry through its cargo airline called Arctic Circle, would have a multiplier effect that would help get the CNMI out of its current economic situation.

Presently, Pellegrino disclosed that there are about five farmers who plant tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, and papaya that have already signed a contract with Cargo Air Bridge and made a commitment to supply Cargo Air Bridge which would then distribute the produce to markets in Guam.

Pellegrino said they are expecting the purchased aircraft to arrive by the end of the month or early February, adding that strict federal regulations have caused the slight delay in starting off their operations.