The CUC conundrum’s resolution

The conundrum or challenges we face with CUC are a direct dichotomy between the people, the Legislature and the administration. The people are caught behind the eight ball because the ones they elected to represent them haven’t gotten their act together on CUC and, more importantly, I don’t think they collectively know what to do. The Legislature is stuck behind an administration that has taken us nowhere fast and we are experiencing worse conditions with CUC than we did with the previous administration. Finally, the administration doesn’t know whether to ask for a bailout of our economy from the feds by declaring an economic disaster or to fight federalization—thus we are in this situation today.

I was referring to the entire CNMI when I said the Governor needs to declare an economic disaster, given the catastrophic economic forces and conditions we have faced in the last two years. But still no disaster declaration and we are left shouldering the disaster because of the stance of the administration that has only resulted in increases in everything. I just wonder when our Legislature will wake up and realize they need to take control of the situation by overriding the Governor and declaring an economic disaster with a resolution that has teeth, for federal assistance and relief efforts to begin. Relief efforts are always immediate, which is what we need—immediate financial help.

The Legislature needs to disown the lawsuit and the administration for their poor leadership in the crisis we are facing. The Bitter Times joke has become a genuine reality for the people. Our only hope for immediate relief is for our Legislature to take a stance to save the people and let the administration stand on it own. It’s time for the Legislature to commit a “mutiny” and I mean that literally because it is clear the administration is imploding from its own failures. Don’t worry about the administration because it is obvious even to the administration that the people will deal with the administration in the voting booth. We are sailing in the wrong direction with a frivolous lawsuit for our sail and we are headed straight to the Depression Trench. The administration hasn’t sent out an SOS, the boat is sinking fast and we need to find land quick, fast, and in a hurry.

But there is one thing CUC can do right now to help the people. CUC can change the old policy of only three extensions per year for paying your bill because that policy was implemented when times and our money situation was very different. As long as a person meets the extension date, he or she should be able to get as many extensions as necessary and even carry over an established dollar amount just so they can keep their power on. This outdated policy has only served to “cut” services and revenue because people are just letting the bill go and are moving back to their family. Worse, they put the bill in another name to never pay the bill and some are just leaving for good. CUC is not even trying to help the people with payments and they can do better.

Well I wrote this letter by request from people who are suffering and I can only hope our Legislature will now listen to my suggestion, given the fact that everyone who voted for them are in the dark with them and we are all in the same boat and everybody knows we are sinking. So to all those people asking me to write, it’s time for you to ask our Legislature what they are going to do. It is the Legislature’s job to provide the necessary checks on the executive office. It is the people’s job to implement their own accountability check by appealing to our Legislature and paying close attention to who supports overriding the governor’s decisions on CUC and dealing with the feds and then they will know who to vote for and who NOT to vote for in the next election. I have given you the solution to the conundrum we are in and if every citizen and member of the Legislature will do their part there will be better times.