The CNMI could have a bright future

Let me briefly explain that I have lived in the CNMI for over 10 years and I am 74 years old. That means that I do not know a lot about the CNMI and that I am old, so take what I say with a grain of salt. That said, I have also been an observer of the goings on in the CNMI. I have written letters to the editor, attended Legislature meetings, attended court trials, participated in various public service committees, joined the Chamber of Commerce, worked with a team on the future, attended public hearings, and talked with many of our elected leaders. These activities have brought me into contact with many of the people who are the “movers and shakers” living in the CNMI. I have met enough people I know that a bright future is coming through the people to the CNMI.

There are smart, capable people in all age groups, living in all the villages and on all the islands. I am particularly impressed with the younger generation, those 50 years old and younger. Many have excellent educations, have traveled globally, ran businesses, taught in schools, been in government, and served the people through the military and volunteer work. They really know what makes these islands tick, and they can make the needed changes for our future in the CNMI, if only given the opportunity. For example the first names of a few people that come to my mind that are in the group of future change agents are: Ed, Alex, Vince, Doug, Tina, Galvin, Marian, Dave, Vickie, Jim, Steve, Tony, Michael, Arnold, Jay, etc., etc. The point of this list is to make the point that the CNMI has many outstanding leaders, most of your readers will be able to put a last name with their first. We as a community need to seek the best to run our government and the outstanding ones must be encouraged to run for political offices. We must recruit the best leaders to get the best results for our people! We will reap what we sow; weak people in government produce poor results! The choice is up to the people who vote. For example, drinking buddies, cousins, uncles, and friends are not qualifications to be leaders, they have got to bring some skills, capabilities, honesty and “heart” to the ballot and if elected to the government.

Recently, the governor called the senators of Tinian and Rota “stupid.” My mother taught me that calling people stupid was impolite and I have never done such a thing. The Senate is made up of representatives from all the islands and I assume that the governor thinks that there are stupid people in all the Senate (including Saipan) and probably the House too. I may be wrong but it seems that stupid people disagree with the governor and that they should be “punished”—his words not mine. I hope with all my heart that this event will be a “tipping point” and that the public will finally “tip” to make changes in their habits of electing the same kind of people, time after time. Remember we reap what we sow. Even the governor said the people elected “stupid” senators. The list of people that are above are hard working, intelligent, outstanding human beings. Let’s get some of them in our government. Your readers know these people, we have a huge choice of great people to choose from for the elections coming in November.

Let’s take a look at just a few of the issues going on in the CNMI, things like the poor execution of CHC, a corporation failing from the start. The people on Saipan rejected casinos twice at the polls, but our government leaders keep pushing for casinos. I have asked many people if they are proud of the 17th Legislature; 100 percent say no in private but in public they say nothing. What is wrong? Why are they afraid? When will CUC be taken private? How many more years will it take? The zoning debate is not logical. For example, in a recent letter to the editor from a famous House member, he proved with hard data that people did not come out to the public hearings. They sat back and let the leaders decide for them. This kind of community activity will result in failure. It seems that the people are to blame, the governor is to blame, our legislators are to blame. The CNMI is failing and it is time to change!

Perhaps the governor is right, there may be “stupid” people in government. Whose responsibility is that? The people, that’s who!