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An open letter to Finance
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Posted on Feb 08 2012
I am a parent of a student who is attending college in Edmonds, Washington. My daughter submitted two applications for scholarship in the CNMI for school year 2011-2012: SHEFA and the CNMI Scholarship. My daughter asked me to follow up on her scholarship. I went to SHEFA and was told that my daughter’s application was approved and that they had submitted her name as well as other students for processing of scholarship checks, but the SHEFA Office inform me that they are still awaiting the Department of Finance’s approval of the checks. I went up to Capital Hill to follow up with the CNMI Scholarship Office, and again, I was told that my daughter‘s application was approved and her name has been forwarded to Finance for processing. I had called often to both offices to follow up and was told that they are still waiting for Finance to process the checks.
Last week, I went up to the DOF Office to meet Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson with regards to this issue and was told to wait for her call for an appointment. She never called me back. Again, I called DOF today and was told to wait for her call to set an appointment. Ms. Larson, I am tired of waiting for your call. I know that you are a busy person, but you’re not the only one who is busy. All I want to hear is, “Mr. Sablan, we have issued your daughter’s as well other students’ scholarship checks.”
I don’t know what the priority of this government is, if we cannot give our children the opportunity to advance their education for the future of these islands. Politicians are experts on this. Education, education, but when in office, education is third priority! To the politicians, I ask you now to stand up and fight for our college students! Stop giving them a bleak picture of what the future of the islands is and will be. Give them your great support. Call Ms. Larson and demand that she do her job and process and issue all college students’ outstanding scholarship checks!
My daughter’s school is starting the third quarter, and she did not get even a penny from both scholarship offices.
[B]Vicente M. Sablan[/B] [I]Kagman III¸Saipan[/I]
