Alleged collusion in paradise

The recent Bloomberg story of collusion between Best Sunshine, the governor and his siblings had most readers in coffee shops across the archipelago stunned, appalled, if not wowing! The bold and revealing narrative instantly went viral.

It asserts, “Imperial Pacific has made millions of dollars in payments to family members of the territory’s governor, Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres.” The reporter, Matthew Campbell, was asked of the assertive narrative that seemed to border on defamation. He said he’s done checking and cross-checking with sources to pin down his facts. That it focused on connecting the dots is fodder for flies to swarm to death.

The piece further says, “When laws have become inconvenient to the company, they’ve been flouted; when the requirements of its contract with the government have become onerous, they’ve been removed; when legislators have tried to interfere, they’ve been ignored.” There’s solid evidence on this score and would discuss it next week.

The story went viral and understood how readers treat it as gospel truth, saying it “won’t be published if it is false.” Whether there’s truth or falsity to the narratives is the purview of the governor and his siblings. How people see it—disdain or flattery—is all a matter of personal perception. Most, though, are capable of connecting the dots how power and greed could easily turn complimentary.

The Bloomberg piece instantly fostered suspicion and distrust in the affairs of the local government. The governor repudiated it, saying it’s “politically motivated.” But is Campbell doesn’t even vote here. It’s a revealing straight news story. Period!

Torres’ answer drowns instantly versus the “wow” factor we’ve heard in coffee shops all over the archipelago. How do you erase the local community’s treatment of rumor as “fact” first until further notice?

Be that as it may, it’s impossible clearing the air on this score and not when the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. With social media having far larger wingspan than lamestream media, how do you control spread even of misinformation?

$$$$: The article says the casino business here makes $2 billion per month, a huge sum that jolted even Macau, the casino mecca in the region. If it rakes in such huge sums, then why is our share limited to $15 million per year? Why haven’t legislators seen fit to tax at least 10 percent of it? Or have they involuntarily turn servile lapdogs to their sugar daddy to ensure moolah for their re-election?

Is it because the legislative mathematical methodology and derivative of 80 percent for salary increase is conveniently anomalous? Imagine $200 million per month or $2.4 billion tucked away in the local treasury.

Yet we put on Sears Roebuck ties and paddle across the sea and ask Washington, specifically, U.S. taxpayers, for more money ignoring taxing the largess at home? Humiliating!

The assertion of the NMI being bought by Chinese money is very unsettling but not as troubling as the silent tail of destruction it drags behind it. It has begun moving steadily and its strength, in strange foreign influence, would change our simple way of life forever more. Do we accept our demise with grand acquiescence?

At day’s end, home as we know would not be home any longer and not with the major shuffle gradually slammed against our people by casino owners. Whatever happened to cultural resiliency to avoid exchanging our culture for money? Have we been fooled by the anticipated glitz and glamour? I lament the gradual whip of the long and destructive tail of the growing monstrosity. Well, I’ve said my piece.

Perhaps Bloomberg ought to probe DPL and this administration’s dealings on the Marpi land. Should be interesting find for public consumption.

Deficit diet: Has anyone identified the likely adverse impact of Trump’s tax reduction program here? How much are we talking about in terms of dollar figure? Are we on a steady deficit diet building upon more debts, ignoring fiscal hawk’s warning of overspending?

Would a diet succeed if you begin by weighing 200 lbs and six years later you weigh over 400 lbs? Would anyone in this position say, “I may be obese now, but at least I’m putting on the pounds at a slower pace”?

Reportedly, the NMI government owes CUC upwards of $50 million, discounting what’s owed vendors. CPA owes $23 million. Then you factor in old debts, current deficit and obligations. Is revenue generation overflowing to cover obligations or are we nervously falling behind?

More bad tidings when the effect of Delta Air Lines’ pullout takes its toll. Somehow, the Year of the Dog isn’t friendly for the airline industry here: Delta is leaving, a small airline terminated Guam-Rota flights, and Star Marianas made an emergency landing here this week, sending two people to the hospital. Like Speaker Ralph Demapan said recently, “That tooks care of it!”

Rolex: At a weekday Mass, some folks sporting shiny gold Rolex take quick glances at their precious wristwatch. The color of gold reflecting flashes on the ceiling of the church was quite impressive.

Someone whispered that they hide the $22K Rolex because it’s bad public image. Said Magoo, “We know their salaries, so where did they get $22K for their expensive wristwatch?”

Safety? The fire department is about to get stricter on parking in fire lanes in Garapan. Yet Best Sunshine doesn’t have a functioning sprinkler system in its new facility. How are they going to get stricter on fire laws that affect the common people of the Marianas while being complicit in the breaking one of their own laws—sprinkler compliance—while bending over backwards for BSI?