NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR

Antonio Muña, the golden boy who snatched Bank of Saipan from the jaws of imminent closure, had arguably the worst year in 2008, his reputation as a troubleshooter sorely tested by the power crisis that gripped most of the year. Considered one of the islands’ most highly respected figures, Muña ended 2008 with his name, fairly or not, vilified in some circles for the sometimes 12-hour rotating blackouts that hit Saipan for several months this year. Although most of the problems besetting the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. were largely inherited from past mismanagement and incompetence, Muña, as the current CUC executive director, became the face of that crisis and got the onus of the flak, worsened by perceptions in some circles that he was mostly doing damage control for the Fitial administration. The nearly daily complaints against CUC became muted, though, with the arrival of the temporary Aggreko generators but, unless a long-term solution to the power crisis is found, it is almost a given that Muña will be in for another round of public condemnation come September 2009, when the Aggreko contract ends.

On June 9 this year, James H. Bell celebrated his 70th birthday by repeating a feat he first achieved nearly three decades ago—swimming across the channel from Tinian to Saipan. This time, though, he went in the opposite direction, going from Saipan to Tinian, managing to swim the five-mile distance in under five hours. He followed this up by swimming around the entire island of Saipan—a 45-mile distance—in several stages. He started his journey on July 4, 2008, and completed his last leg on Sept. 20, 2008. Bell’s superhuman adventures were not without its share of drama. On Oct. 4, a Saturday, Bell tried to repeat his channel crossing from Saipan to Tinian. He was dropped off at the Unai Obyan Beach at 9:30am. He should have been on Tinian five hours later but nightfall came and no sign of Bell. Coast Guard choppers sent to search for him found Bell still swimming at 9am of Sunday, more than 24 hours later. He said a strong tide swept him away, forcing him to spend the night in the shark-infested waters. He waved away the Coast Guard’s offer of help and completed the swim hours later. At the moment, Bell is trying to swim around the island of Tinian, again in several stages. The point of all these? Bell is practicing for his next goal—to cross the Torres Strait from Papua New Guinea to the Australian mainland. When asked why he wanted to do something like this, he responded: “I wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before. I want to be an inspiration to others (I don’t want to encourage people to take up channel swimming), but being 70 shouldn’t keep you from doing what you want to do. You don’t have to look at things as if they are written in stone.” Inspiration, indeed!

Elected as the first ever Delegate for the Northern Mariana Islands, Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan became the first beneficiary of the federalization law that granted the Commonwealth its first elected representative to the U.S. Congress. Although a largely symbolic role due to its non-voting status, the position enables the CNMI to sit at the table in Washington D.C. and gives it a voice in various committees where bills that could affect the islands originate. Like former Saipan Tribune Person of the Year honoree, Tina Sablan, Kilili Sablan came into office largely through the efforts of grassroots campaigning, eschewing traditional means such as splashy advertisements, a bottomless campaign war chest, and the benefit of an extensive clan that would vote as a bloc. His impeccable reputation as a former executive director of the Commonwealth Election Commission and his personal humility and charisma may have propelled him to victory but, for good or ill, it will be his performance in the nation’s capital that will judge his place in Commonwealth history.

A man who inspires strong emotions, Greg Cruz, as the self-styled activist and community agitator, has become a loud voice for the islands’ disenchanted indigenous population. Advocating priority employment for local residents, Cruz has nevertheless also injected his opinions on other issues, ranging from homestead applications to alleged corrupt activities of some officials. Some people question his methods and not a few despise his ideology but, whether they like it or not, Cruz has given a face and a voice to the largely ignored indigenous masses who have become disaffected about how the local government works and cynical about what it takes to get things done around here. Attempts have been made to put him down and belittle his efforts but his truculent posture and insistence on being heard has put most of the island’s politicians and officials on notice that this is someone who will not be easily swayed or silenced.

According to its website, the Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent nonprofit founded by the sons and daughters of Sun Oil Co. founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew. This group came to the attention of the CNMI after it made a ham-handed effort to convince the Commonwealth to support the designation of the northernmost islands of Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion as a national monument by President Bush. Ham-handed because, despite the admirable goals of the project, it instead became a lightning rod for controversy, with most of those opposed to the idea taking offense at the perceived condescension with which Pew presented the idea to the community. This was not helped by the alleged lack of consultation among local officials, who chorused their opposition to the proposal. Taken aback, Pew changed tack and went on a broad campaign spree to garner support for the project, if not among local officials, then at least within the community. The effort paid off with thousands of signatures gathered and a barrage of letters to the White House—all in support of the project. President Bush is due to make a decision on the issue before he steps down from office in January.

A former president of the United Coalition of Workers, Irene Tantiado broke away from the group and now heads the United Workers Movement, which has been at the forefront of efforts to grant a legitimate immigration status to long-term alien workers, immediate relative of Freely Associated States and U.S. citizens, and all others who may be affected when the federal government takes over local immigration in June 2009. Calling herself an advocate for workers’ rights, Tantiado has also taken on issues critical to the CNMI’s population of foreign workers such as the needs of foreign parents with children who have disabilities and the failure of some local insurance companies to pay workers money they are owed through surety bonds. Working in tandem or separately with Wendy Doromal, Jerry Custodio, and other labor activists, Tantiado has continued to lobby key lawmakers and officials in the CNMI for workers’ interests.