What legislative initiative? • Voters assail lack of public information on proposals By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN

Lucinda Rosario of San Jose thought she was ready to cast her vote on Saturday. She has already decided which candidates to vote for. When asked if she has also made up her mind on the legislative initiatives proposing amendments to the CNMI Constitution, she responded with a perplexed look on her face: “What legislative initiatives?”

Three days into elections and several voters are still not aware that they have to deal with a set of questions that they need to answer through the ballot.

“I never knew there were such legislative initiatives, and I’m sure a lot of people don’t know that either,” says Rosario, 27.

Aside from electing candidates for political and nonpolitical positions, the CNMI voters will also have to decide on Nov. 6 whether to ratify or reject proposed constitutional amendments through legislative and popular initiatives. (See box) Several voters complain about the lack of public information, feeling as though they are being tossed into the water, and left to either swim or sink.

“Our legislators who come up with proposals should be smart enough to know that they have to make the people understand the issues. It’s not our fault if we choose not to vote on their proposals,” says Rosario.

Like students cramming for a school exam, the CNMI voters are rushing to obtain copies of the legislative initiatives for a last-minute review.

“I know about the one that deals with Article 12, but the thing about establishing finance offices for the legislature and the judiciary is new to me. I need to read that now,” says Anthony Aldan of As Lito.

Nobert Santos, 23, of Koblerville, says “legislative initiative is a familiar term, but I don’t completely understand what it’s all about. I do understand though that it involves critical issues that will affect our lives.”

Board of Education member and businessman Anthony Pellegrino deplored the government’s failure to hold public hearings and conduct information campaign on issues involved in the referendum.

“It appears strange that public hearings are readily called for many less important issues, but none were called to discuss and evaluate public comments on the two initiatives,” Pellegrino said.

“As an educated populace, we must be given time and opportunity to read and discuss openly the merits and demerits of vital issues especially when tampering with the CNMI Constitution,” Pellegrino added.

Ruth Guerrero, a resident of Garapan, complains about the government’s way of conducting elections.

“That’s how we always do. It’s like taking a test at school. They make us go the polling places, give us a form to fill in, make us sit down and answer questions,” Guerrero says.

No officials would claim the responsibility of conducting a public education campaign.

Senate Vice President Thomas Villagomez, author of Legislative Initiative 11-1 which pertains to the indigenous voting rights, says that although he doesn’t believe it’s his obligation, he took the initiative to conduct a public hearing on his proposal.

Board of Elections Executive Director Gregorio Sablan says his office, with its limited staff, has “done its best” to inform the voters about the referendum.

“We’ve conducted information campaign through the media,” Sablan said.

However, he said the elections board does not have enough resources to fund a full public information program.

“I also don’t know if I have the authority to do that. I was hoping that the proponents of the initiatives would conduct their own public education campaign about the contents and substance of their proposals. That’s beyond my responsibility,” Sablan says.

Sean Kaipat of Dandan says that if he had his way, he would ask that the question about constitutional amendments be taken off the ballots.

“If I had the money, I would file a lawsuit,” Kaipat says. “The people are being shortchanged. You cannot just think of something overnight and put in on the ballot and expect the people to just vote ‘yes’ without knowing what it’s all about.”

Kaipat also criticizes the legislature’s whimsical habit of introducing amendments to the Constitution.

“Sooner or later our Constitution would be thicker than the US Constitution. It’s now like a pair of overpatched Levi’s jeans. You won’t remember anymore what the original looked like,” Kaipat says.

Some issues, Kaipat adds, can be addressed by enacting a statute instead of changing the basic law of the Commonwealth.