Safe for whom?

Safe haven?!?! I know it sounds like a great idea to some, but there are very important questions and facts that we must consider.

First, will allowing the safe haven to go through be safe for everyone, including the people of the CNMI? According to Laura Bobak, a writer who researched the Cambodian sex-slave industry not too long ago, “Cambodian prostitutes have HIV infection rates of at least 40 percent, but the figure could be much higher.” HIV is incurable and leads to AIDS. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to detect one who is infected with this contagious disease. Nonetheless, I am pretty sure that, if the Commonwealth were to allow the USIM to bring in these former sex slaves, at least half of them would be HIV positive.

Does this move proposed by the Attorney General and her followers really come at no cost to the people of the CNMI? Absolutely not. It is an extremely risky move for the CNMI, and it will definitely be costly to our community. Yes, we do have cases of AIDS on island, but it no less than a handful. By opening our doors to these former sex slaves, we the people of the CNMI will be putting our health and our lives on the line. In giving them a safe haven, we will be gambling with the safety of our people.

We risk the chance of being exposed to AIDS. And if we do we get exposed, we lose a great many years of our lives and have to incur humongous medical bills to sustain us.

Could this really happen? Yes, it is highly likely. Even if the USIM were to publicly reveal which of those among the former sex slaves are HIV positive, I’m pretty sure that the people of the CNMI would still be in danger. How? Well, it’s common logic. In bringing these former sex slaves here, the USIM hopes to give them freedom as well as normalcy. So I’m sure they won’t be locking them up in their compound the whole time they are here. In giving them their freedom and allowing them to be normal, the USIM will obviously allow these former sex slaves to shop in our stores, to walk on our streets, and to eat in our restaurants.

Although HIV cannot be contracted through casual interaction, it can be passed via mother to child, sexual intercourse, and/or needle sharing. Allowing these former sex slaves normalcy would require that they be allowed to have relationships, romantic as well as platonic, like everyone else does. If they were to get cut and their blood accidentally come in contact with one of us, we would then get HIV. If they were to have a romantic relationship with one of our locals, one of our very own could be a victim of HIV. Moreover, if the romantic relationship result in a child, this child could also be HIV positive.

Then, before we know it, we will no longer be an attractive and safe destination. Instead, we will become an HIV infested rock that no tourists would like to visit. Therefore, not only do we risk losing our lives but also our livelihood.

And another thing, is it our right to intrude upon other countries‚ issues or should we allow them to solve it on their own? These countries are in the midst of solving their corruption. The sex slave industry will certainly not disappear overnight, but it will over time. I believe that, if they seek our support, we should support them in whatever ways we can without endangering ourselves. However, for now, we must respect their stance.

Most importantly, at this point in time, should this be a concern of ours? Absolutely not. The CNMI is in economic turmoil and is covered with its own problems from head to toe. Before we go about solving other countries’ problems, we must solve our own. I don’t just mean our economic problems, though they are paramount at this time.

We must not forget that we too have prostitution problems on island. There is a thriving underground prostitution industry in progress as I write this. It has yet to be rectified. Until then, we must focus on our local issues.

I am all for compassion and understanding, but I am also on my toes for the safety of our people. My heart goes out to these former sex slaves, but my heart remains with my people. The people of the CNMI’s safety and livelihood is first and foremost on my agenda. Until our people are taken care of, I will then be ready to take care of others.

My dear people of the CNMI, consider these questions and facts I have just presented to you and then ask yourself, “Who is really going to be safe if we were to allow this save haven to fall through?” I urge all of you to appear at this Thursday’s public hearing at the Multi-Purpose Center to let your voices be heard; unfortunately, I cannot be there as I will be leaving off-island this Thursday. Nonetheless, you must remember that our safety is at stake.

Roselle D. Calvo
San Vicente, Saipan