Resign, Mr. Speaker

Newt Gingrich is an honorable man. For the good of the Republican party and the country, he resigned as Speaker of the US House of Representatives. He accepted responsibility for Republican setbacks in the last election and promptly did what President Clinton should have done a long time ago: step down from power.

If our own Speaker had the integrity of Mr. Gingrich, he too would step down. House Speaker Diego Benavente has no moral right to remain as our Speaker. His recent statements and actions have been absolutely reprehensible to the people of this great Commonwealth.

Speaker Diego knows full well that our tourism industry has virtually collapsed. He knows that our hotel occupancy rates are at an all-time low. He knows that 1,200 businesses did not renew their business licenses this year. He knows that tourist arrivals have dropped at least 31 percent last October. He knows that tourism figures have dropped each and every month since Asia’s economies imploded last year.

Yet despite these absolutely indisputable facts, House Speaker Diego Benavente still insists on damaging the only industry still sustaining our economy: the garment industry.

Why? Why is Speaker Diego doing this to us? Has he no understanding at all of basic economics? Is he deliberately ignoring his fiduciary responsibility to save and salvage our rapidly deteriorating economy? What in the world is motivating the Speaker’s totally irrational behavior? What’s the matter with him?

“Do you think that the local people are ready to accept (the influx of new alien workers) and its resulting impact on our water and power situation?” asked the Speaker.

Doesn’t he know that the garment industry can provide its own power? Doesn’t he want CUC to have more market demand, more customers? Doesn’t the Speaker want more business activity and more tax revenues?

“Enough is enough. No more,” said the Speaker. “Think of our people.”

Indeed, enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. No more. Please resign now. Think of our people. Think of the economic opportunities you are destroying for them. Think of the financial difficulties our people are now experiencing. Stop making it harder for us.

Don’t get me wrong. The Speaker is not a stupid man. He knows our economy is suffering. Any fool could see that. What is driving the Speaker is probably hatred and resentment.

“ . . .I look around and see certain individuals trying to influence us,” said the Speaker. “I don’t know why they are so important. We can’t continue to be used and pressured.”

We understand, Mr. Speaker. Someone in the garment industry must have really ticked you off. Perhaps you want revenge. Perhaps your judgment is clouded by your resentment. Perhaps that’s the real reason you opposed garment workers. Perhaps you should resign if you can’t get past your own biases and act in the best interests of our people and economy.