Residents, nonresidents join CUC rally

Hundreds of residents, dressed in black with bandages plastered on their bodies, turned out Tuesday night to protest what they called the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s band-aid approach to the island’s power crisis.

Citizens and non-citizens of all ages turned out for the event, held at the Garapan Fishing Base. Many people toted signs with slogans, such as “Will fight for light,” and “Customers Using Candles,” in a nod to CUC’s acronym.

Organizer Ed Propst said more than 400 people signed a petition that will be given to Nikolao Pula, the Director of the Office Insular Affairs, when he visits the island next week. The petition seeks federal intervention and oversight into CUC.

Boni Sagana, a resident of As Perdido representing long-term contract workers, said he wants federal oversight and a federal investigation conducted to look into CUC’s billing practices.

“The power’s out three or four hours a day, but the consumption is the same or higher [on the bill], so we don’t really understand,” he said.

Many families are struggling to pay their monthly bills, he added.

“Our salaries, some of us on minimum wage, we’re supposed to be using that money for our children, but everything earned goes to power,” he said.

Kagman High School teacher Dave Bucher said he is concerned with the lack of water during outages.

“I’m concerned for costs, but the issue of not having reliable and clean water is huge,” he said. “This is the only place I know where you can’t drink the water. Water is a fundamental quality to life.”

Bucher said it did not make sense that Gov. Benigno Fitial delayed the opening of four public schools due to contaminated water.

“Well, we should shut the whole island down because it’s all contaminated,” he added.

During the event, organizers Propst and Rep. Tina Sablan spoke to the crowd. When Propst walked on to the stage, he asked the protesters to bow their heads.

“Can we take a moment of silence for our electrical equipment and our appliances,” he said. Propst then had the audience repeat the lines, “Enough is enough,” “No more lies,” and “Let there be light.”

Several community members walked on stage and spoke to the audience.

Everyone is complaining about the power being out, Galvin Guerrero told the audience, but he wanted to talk about the elected leaders.

“I don’t want to demonize them,” he said. “They think they’re doing what’s best for the CNMI.”

But elected leaders lose humility, and when they lose humility, they lose perspective, he said.

“They call groups like this dissidents, and they call people like Tina [Sablan]…many, many things.”

Guerrero said he disagrees with the idea to seek federal intervention, because he was not pleased with the way Hurricane Katrina and other disaster situations were handled, but he is in favor of a receivership for CUC.

The event ended with the audience members lighting candles and holding cell phones, as Sablan asked everyone to bow their heads and remember those who have left the island because of the power; those whose houses burned down due to using candles; those whose education is suffering; CUC employees who have “labored tirelessly;” victims of domestic crime and violence; drivers, officers, businesses and tourists; and “all of us that have fallen into debt trying to pay our bills.”

“Nothing less than the future of our community is at stake,” she added.

Yesterday, Propst said they are continuing to ask for signatures and testimonies of those affected. Eric Atalig Roger Ludwick and Rep. Edward T. Salas also helped organize the rally.

CUC executive director Antonio Muña said he respects the community members’ right to protest.

“People have a right,” he said. “No one here had any intention this is what we wanted to happen though. This is what we inherited. We’ve had these obstacles to overcome.”