Let’s ask, seek, and knock!

It is common knowledge in the CNMI that all companies, either private or public, need a helping hand from foreign countries to boost the progress of their business operations.

For instance, can you imagine a hotel running a business without an accountant? Will you build a public hospital such as CHC or private clinic without the assistance of our foreign nurses? Will you run a construction firm without the need for electrical and civil engineers, architects and construction workers? A computer shop store without knowledgeable computer technicians? How about cooks in restaurants, doctors, dentists, machinists, mechanics, teachers, paralegals, building maintenance? Of course we should not forget the presence of our house workers, who have wholeheartedly dedicated their lives to doing our household chores, taking care of our children while we are at our respective places of work?

We are aware that in some of these work related categories, there are foreign workers who have become U.S. citizens but yet decide to stay in the Commonwealth. This is because they love this island. They have not moved out; instead, they opted to stay.

Beyond the expectations of our employers, we, the alien workers, have done a great deal to be more useful and be more productive, productive not only in the sense of providing our employers’ needs but also extending our knowledge and efforts for the betterment of our society. We have freely done it, not only because we are being compensated, but simply because we have gained love and are paying back our respect to the island we consider our second home.

We have embraced with our hearts the culture they have, and even sometimes practiced it to the best that we can. We legally reside and have been employed here for decades. We became law abiding foreign workers, especially in terms of paying taxes, strictly obeying Labor and Immigration rules and regulations, and have tried not to violate the laws and from becoming a burden on the Commonwealth.

I am writing this letter not to demand but to ask, seek and knock. The Bible says, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and they will open the door for you!” I read this to mean “Ask [for improved immigration status] and you will receive. Seek [for assistance from various government elected officials] and you will find. Knock [on the door of the Secretary of Homeland Security] and they will open the door to long-term guest workers in the CNMI!”
[B] Rick Custodio[/B] [I]Garapan, Saipan[/I]