CUC forum in Kagman

Dearest community members:

Last month on June 17, we held our first community forum on CUC at the Susupe Multi-Purpose Center. It was an excellent first meeting that set reasonable demands for CUC. We also demanded that our leaders take action and discussed ways of pressuring them to do so. At the top of the list, we all agreed a legislative oversight was necessary to investigate CUC and its misdeeds. Why the legislative oversight? Because they have far reaching powers and have the ability to subpoena both individuals and records, something the common person like you and me are unable to do.

We need your support and help with this latest CUC forum, and we are holding it this time at the Kagman Chacha Junior High School this Thursday, July 17, at 6pm. I know it is a bit of a drive, but we really need you to come and show your support! We need to stand united against CUC and hold them accountable for their actions. Our lives depend on it!

What will be discussed? The following:

1. Brief report/presentation on results from first community forum held on June 17.

2. Proposed Aggreko contract with CUC and why it is not in our best interests / better alternatives.

3. Brief report on status of legislative oversight and what it hopes to accomplish.

4. Brief report on CUC’s sole source “emergency” contracts and their status.

5. How to bring your CUC bill down in spite of the 2.6 cent July increase (You should attend for this!)

I want you to know that there are several naysayers and critics out there who say that holding a forum is a complete waste of time and that it can accomplish nothing. To them I say this: Progress does not happen overnight, and we cannot expect to solve our problems without trying. And we certainly can’t wait for our leaders to solve all of our problems! We can and will make a difference if people like you will read this and attend and bring at least two other people with you. A few people alone cannot change things for the better unless there are people willing to stand up and support them. If Mahatma Ghandi did not have the support of his people, a revolution would have never taken place. If Dr. Martin Luther King did not have the support of the American public, the Civil Rights movement would not have had gone anywhere. By no means am I ever trying to compare any of us to such noble leaders who inspired entire nations to greatness. I am simply trying to point out that change will only take place if you are willing to be a part of that change. We can no longer afford to sit in our dark homes hoping things get better—the time has come where we must demand it!

Please join us and put aside whatever you are doing to attend this very important forum. We need solutions, not criticism. Most importantly, we need more advocates for change if we hope to restore accountability and to get the CNMI back on the right track.

Thank you and I hope to see you this Thursday, July 17, at 6pm, Kagman Chacha Junior High School!

P.S. If you want transparency, please call or e-mail Rep. Tina Sablan (285-3935 or e-mail tinasablan@gmail.com) and sign the Open Government Act! We need 512 signatures to put this on the ballot as an initiative in November! Let’s give the AG’s office 5,000 signatures instead to send a strong message to the CNMI that no government branch or entity should be exempt from transparency and openness! An open government will lead to an honest government!