A new year, new choices, new directions, action needed

By STANLEY T. MCGINNIS TORRES
Special to the Saipan Tribune

The Second Marianas Political and Economic Status Commission is ready to begin work as soon as our senators pass the enacting legislation. HB 17-07 has passed the House and awaits their action to begin the important process of examining alternatives and making recommendations for our vote regarding the future of our islands and our people. Several have confirmed their willingness to proceed.

I can think of no more important action that we can take than to carefully plan our future and set strategies for attaining those goals. At the very heart of that strategy lies our political and economic relationship with the rest of the world. It is not just time, but past time, that we reexamine our current attachments and determine if we are on the right track, or if there are other ways of better interacting with our neighbors, allies, and friends in the international community.

Just as a personal life that remains unexamined is unlikely to succeed, so too is a nation’s existence in need of periodic re-examination to be able to do the best for its citizens. 2012 is the time for the Northern Marianas Islands to examine these alternatives and decide on a future course of action most likely to improve our lot in life.

The commission is organized to have a complete system of checks and balances, is set up to be both transparent and responsive to public input, is cheap to operate and arguably provides the most important product a government can deliver: a strategy for the nation’s people and a way to attain their goals of self-government and economic prosperity.

I call on you to personally contact your three senators and ask them to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote and to support it with their own positive vote when it gets there so the commission can get started with the important work at hand.

– Rota: Sen. Paul A. Manglona 664-8807 or sen.manglona@gmail.com; Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu 664-8812 or sen.ayuyu@cnmileg.gov.mp; Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao 664-8858 or sen.taimanao@cnmileg.gov.mp

– Tinian: Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider 664-8803 or senatorjuhofschneider@yahoo.com; Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz 664-8922 or senatorfqcruz@hotmail.com; Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas 664-8814 or senatorchandia@yahoo.com

– Saipan: Sen. Pete P. Reyes 664-8868 or sen.reyesp@cnmileg.gov.mp; Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo 664-8967 or sen.luispcrisostimo.nmileg@gmail.com; Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres 664-8874 or senatorrtorres@gmail.com

I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about this week’s article at 664-8903 or rep.torress@cnmileg.gov.mp.

Stanley T. McGinnis Torres is a member of the House of Representatives of the 17th CNMI Legislature.