TaoTao Tano calls for governor’s resignation

The TaoTao Tano CNMI Association is rounding up a signature drive that seeks the immediate resignation of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and majority of his Cabinet members.

In a statement released yesterday, Cruz said that it is time for the governor to step down because the “entire people of the Commonwealth have all suffered enough.”

“The federal government has passed a federal control of our immigration simply because of our current administration. Everyone in our homeland knows the whole story of why we are federalized,” Cruz said.

He also accused the federal government of “oppressing the innocent people of the Commonwealth simply because of the past histories of the Administration and his constituents” and accusing the legislative body for being “uncooperative” since the day the Fitial administration stepped into office.

Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. brushed off the signature drive, saying that Cruz was trying to apply for a job at the Governor’s Office but was told that there were no funds to hire him.

“Right after that, his attitude toward us seemed to have changed drastically. I’m a little bit concerned that maybe this is because we didn’t hire him,” Reyes said.

He also pointed out that in the beginning Cruz was “very supportive” of federalization but seemed to have changed his stance after his application was not accepted.

In his statement, Cruz said that the people of the CNMI are “in an economic crisis and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, except for a cliff. Our entire infrastructure, public service, public safety, social well-being, health and our children’s education is in jeopardy and the administration remains optimistic, arrogant, ignorant and selfish, to include the government [being] broke for the third year, affecting everyone’s general well being.”

Reyes explained that “the governor is presiding over the implosion of the CNMI garment industry and other challenges that began even before he was sworn into office. He has no control over federalization or federal minimum wage hikes. He has no control over the record rise in fuel prices. He is not responsible for the withdrawal of Japan Airlines in 2005 and he rejected Public Law 15-94, and his attempt to privatize CUC was derailed, through no fault of his own.”

He added that throughout Fitial’s term as governor, “[he] has been realistic and financially disciplined, making many difficult but necessary decisions. He is staying the course and leading during the CNMI’s most difficult period.”

He said the administration is very sorry that it was not able to employ Cruz and hopes that he will not take it personally. “I truly hope it’s not a reflection of our inability to hire him. We do sympathize with his concerns. But we are going through a very difficult time and we never said otherwise,” Reyes said.