At the expense of local residents

Most of you know me as Jack Terlaje Quitugua, a staunch critic of our local labor organization’s policies, which to date continues to cause our government to be unfavorably focused upon by Rep. George Miller of California. Well, I’m back again but this time my intent is to focus on what I sincerely believe is a shameful and embarrassing display of democratic governance within our beautiful Commonwealth, at the expense of our own local residents.

It has now been nearly 20 years since the CNMI became a part of the United States’ extended family. In all those years, the federal government had provided billions of dollars to the CNMI for purposes of economic and infrastructure developments, not to mention countless other funds for emergency aid and various programs. Having emphasized this, one would expect that by now at least our infrastructure problems such as water, sewer, power, and proper drainage systems would be the least of our internal dilemmas. Nevertheless, households and commercial entities in various parts of Saipan continue to experience the lack of water supply and quality, power outages, sewer seepages and spillovers and most especially the ever-consistent presence of fecal contaminants within our ocean waters. I highly commend the untiring efforts of the Ben & Tim administration in their pursuit of a better economy through various cost-cutting measures and potential revenue generating ideas.

But choosing to favor the construction of a floating hotel within the Garapan Fishing Base while depriving our local fishermen and farmers of the site which they had pursued for so many years and been approved for is downright inappropriate and not in the best interest of our residents. Attempts to generate the almighty dollar to rejuvenate our ailing economy can be achieved I believe, through other avenues, instead of at the expense of our local residents.

As for cutting 10 percent of our government employees’ salary while exempting other constitutionally protected entities, appointees, and judges, this again is not in the best interest of our local residents. Understandably, exemption has to be extended to essential personnel of government such as physicians, nurses and technicians, Public Safety personnel and educators. But to sacrifice the salaries of our government’s backbone employees while exempting other nonessential and highly-paid personnel is definitely not conducive nor appropriate at all. Other revenue generating measures can be visited and, even if such measures may not immediately boost our economy, at least it will generate something instead of nothing. These measures could include huge monetary fines for littering, for pet owners who allow their pets to roam free in the streets, environmental citations, collection of abused public funds, etc. There are countless statutes in existence right now that allow for such monetary penalties to be imposed and collected, but strict enforcement is the key element for its success.

Are we to believe that businesses would not experience an even greater hardship if salaries of our government employees were to be cut by the proposed 10 percent? Although the business community does support our government’s existence, it in itself would not survive without the daily patronage of customers either, so cutting our government employees salaries would ultimately result in less spending and reduced purchasing ability for personal and household commodities. In essence the domino effect will only compound the immediate problem even further. This analysis does not require a rocket scientist to figure out. Indeed we do have the tourist spending power, but even tourists themselves are more often than not very hesitant to spend large amounts of their hard-earned income. As a matter of fact, majority of tourist visiting our islands nowadays would prefer to dine outside the hotels because they are more consumer-oriented and cost-conscious today compared to many years ago.

Now certain critics in the community may insinuate that this letter is full of it. But the fact is, I do not give a “you know what” how anyone or this administration feels concerning my comments. I alone perpetuate what I want to express or convey, when I feel the need to do so and at the time of my choosing—solely in the interest of our local residents. I salute Mr. Tomas Pangelinan, the fishermen and farmers, for their concrete stance toward their pursuit of the Garapan Fishing Base site, and I am optimistic that they will succeed in their quest.

I also commend Ms. Rosalle Calvo for expressing her sincere feelings and opinion to the public. And contrary to the criticisms this person has endured for airing their concerns, no one can dispute the fact that it takes local residents such as Mr. Tomas Pangelinan, the fishermen, farmers, Ms. Calvo, and other local residents with the tenacity, guts, courage, and strong commitments to wake up certain deadwood entities within our government.

And this administration’s endeavor to cut the meager wages of our local government employees who are undeniably the backbone of this government, and who are currently enduring hardship in trying to make ends meet, will surely prove to be just another example of a giant leap backward, from a previous small step forward, at the expense of our local residents.

Jack Terlaje Quitugua
Garapan, Saipan