Happy Thanksgiving!

For all our triumphs and tribulations over the last year, it is most appropriate that we give our most profound sense of “Thanks” and “Si Yuus Maase`” to Divine Providence for all our blessings throughout the year.

Despite the the assaults and mind-numbing effects on the local economy forced upon it by the vicious Asian financial crisis, we’ve joined hands in every corner to try making sense of what lies ahead to stave off the deepening effects of this external economic contagion.

It is not an easy task and because no one can reasonably predict the ravaging effects of this contagion makes it mandatory upon local leadership to constantly monitor the pulse of every sector of the NMI economy. It is an inherent mandate for people at the helm.

How sad, however, that some of our key leaders have convinced themselves that the deepening economic crisis is a “scare tactic”. This warped view reminds us of a biblical passage about St. Thomas who refused to believe that Christ suffered a deathly puncture on His ribs that sent blood from His heart gushing down like a raging river.

If this superficial belief is true and deeply ingrained in the minds of some of our key policymakers, then we need to lead and show our men of wisdom such factual figures as the closure of 1,100 plus local businesses this year and still counting, the ardent request by the business community for some form of tax relief or incentives to muddle through these difficult times; or request by the administration to suspend or repeal certain laws to resuscitate the local coffers.

Suffice it to say, the obvious complacency with which some of our policymakers have handled this crisis isn’t so much the problem as much as the fact that perhaps these isles has a severe leadership crisis. This blurs any and all progressive and proactive steps to dealing with difficult decisions so imposed upon the local government from the Asian economic.

Let us pray on this day of thanks that Divine Providence guides the juvenile views of some key policymakers so they can ably come full square with the dire financial straits of the local government. Despite this setback, it is a beautifl occasion that kicks off the wonderful spirit of the Holiday Season. And may the spirit of the holiday season shed light upon our elected leaders so that they may see clearly the distinction between public service and servicing family or personal interests. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all and let us give thanks to Divine Providence for all our blessings.