D.C. trip no junket ––Reyes

Irked by criticisms heaped against CNMI officials traveling off-island on government expense, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes slammed critics for not being “sensitive” to the needs of the community.

In particular, the senator riled against accusations of junket trips on lawmakers making a visit to Washington D.C. this week to meet with the members of the U.S. Congress and discuss issues affecting the Commonwealth.

Mr. Reyes said that while he is not part of the 17-man strong delegation, the trip is crucial and an effective way of communicating to U.S. legislators the impact of their measures and the need to fight off federal takeover attempts.

“We’ve got to put a face on the issue and actually communicate to them because a lot of these things are done by visiting members [of Congress],” he said. “It’s unfortunate that media critics have not had the opportunity to go with members and see the kind of efforts being done.”

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, who left Monday ahead of the delegation that included 13 House members and four senators, has dismissed criticisms against the trip, noting that he respects their opinion.

The visit, the first under his leadership, is aimed at discussing the present economic problems facing the CNMI with members of Congress as well as the efforts being undertaken to improve the island’s conditions.

According to Mr. Reyes, the most effective way to do this is to have a face-to-face meeting with these important people. “If we follow their rationale that all travels are junket, if we want to communicate to them, then we should send e-mail instead. How effective do you think is that?”

Since the media lack the sensitivity to issues affecting the indigenous people in the CNMI, the senator said, it is easy for them to criticize and denounce these efforts of trying to block federal takeover of local immigration and labor.

“It’s difficult enough to fight off fatigue and all that, and then come home to face a media that are very hostile against the efforts of what the CNMI leadership is doing,” added Mr. Reyes.

“When we’re struggling with the economic crisis at home and we don’t do anything, the media still criticize us for not doing at all. And then, when we start to move and promote the CNMI, they would still criticize us. What do we do now?” he asked.