CW, immigration, and our leaders

Why is it that the people elected to represent the residents of the CNMI are silent on the single most critical factor that will have a most extreme negative impact on our economy, our government, our people and their future as well as the that of generations to come? Election year uncertainty? Or is it a severe case of the “don’t know what to do, can’t seem to understand the situation or status quo as in let somebody else handle this one politics?”

Wake up, the CNMI needs action now. We do not need you folks going from event to social functions, and wakes and funerals looking for recognition or worse, someone who recognizes you! Stop the politics and act, as one cohesive unit. I feel that the Republican majority in our Legislature is silently or, perhaps, covertly, suppressing the minority’s proposals in the committees, or many times “file-13” the minority’s proposals. I understand politics work that way but that should be done judiciously so there is progress and to avoid a loggerhead. I’m addressing this to our administration, our Legislature and our Washington delegate.

For those of you who have been asleep (we know one that’s quite famous for sleeping during the sessions in the House who might again be running in November’s elections) or are trying a little too hard to ignore the problems with our workforce, you need to get the heck out of office. Stop wasting money on bush-cutting, that’s NOT your job! Sit down and work on the options we have which can possibly provide long term solutions for all of us. Short-term fixes is all you know and do. Do you have a medium-range economic recovery objectives, and a long-range economic recovery objectives to get us out of the doldrums we’re facing after the garment factories left? The problem has already been identified for you so your job’s a little easier.

Again for the sake of clarity, the root of our problem is our lack of immigration control. Maybe we should be meeting with the Department of Labor. I kuentos munana magof, i kuentos munana bubu. Let’s try negotiating some more. All these issues with the CWs and the H2s and the impending economic doom these will result in can be headed off now, not in a couple of years or 2019.

The U.S. wresting of immigration control from us is an abuse at the very least. We do not belong to the U.S., nor are we U.S. property. We have a unique political relationship called a commonwealth, similar to Puerto Rico, and it’s sort of like a marriage or even a cohabitation-type in which one partner can be abusive or inconsiderate. America has a condescending attitude that has to stop. Let’s negotiate for the return of our “immigration.” We could do that, right? Negotiate? Do we have tougher options? Maybe demand? Or are we at U.S.’s mercy? What is it?

America took back our immigration control due to national security, but we know better don’t we? Think control, think military presence, think three defense echelons. We are pawns in the politics of the world. Russia’s Putin is in China, he is happy with Greece’s planning to visit Russia, ISIS now is looking at Malaysia and the Philippines, BRexit won, Scotland is thinking about exiting from UK, Russia is concerned about EU’s potential disintegration and the effect of it on Russia’s trade ties, Xi Jinping severed ties with Taiwan. The Philippine’s Duterte is unhappy with U.S. I tell you, we are very, very small and so are expendable. But the war game strategists found us. Simple Google Earth. And, should Kim Jong Un decide to prove a point, he can nuke us and Guam, and the U.S. will not engage for fear of starting WWIII. It’s Star War scenario. The infrared battle satellites are focusing on this region, among others. The “DIVERT.” No USMC’s storming of Pagan beach or the continued bombings of Medinilla and Anatahan. What would happen after the leases end? Is this what we want?

In the meantime, our very lives are at stake. Our future, most everything we own. And unless we do something to get our immigration control back, that bankruptcy that has been threatening is looming ever closer, perhaps even by December 2017. How about switching agency to the Department of Labor for the CWS. I hope I’m so wrong but unless our immigration problems are fixed now, we shall lose our workers, skilled and unskilled and it is only us, all of us, who are too proud to admit our past mistakes with our own affairs, will be the victims. You do understand that last word, right? Victims. Mass exodus. Critical drop in the buying public, workers, renters, leases, foreign business owners, etc.

So, stop the petty and useless politicking and prancing around as if you people are somebody, you work for us. Negotiate with the U.S. to return its control of our immigration. Let’s try negotiation. Can we call it an “end-run instead of trying to slam through a solid granite wall?” The U.S. did understand and agree from the start that self-government was the ideal established by the United Nations. It was only when greed and the need for control got in the way that things went horribly wrong.

Again, it is our future. Our economy. Our CIP. Our infrastructure. Our jobs. Our pay. Our retirement benefits. Our businesses. Our taxes. Our revenue. Our very survival. Do something or pay the consequences. Delay the CWs force exits. Let them leave of their own desire. The exodus of critical workers has started. So have business drawdowns and closures. In about a year, if nothing is done to head off this coming disaster, we shall bear witness to inhumane conditions and suffering. Much like what we, the proud residents of the NMI, the “Magas,” are putting those unfortunate enough to have come here and helped construction projects and not only with our economy but our lives.

Past all these problems, we need to re-visit our Covenant with the U.S. and try to undo the many damage done. And let’s not forget that we need to get our sovereignty back. Do we understand sovereignty? Don’t like my statements? Then come up with a better, more viable solution. Otherwise, keep your trap shut and vote for the right people this November. Do you know what you want in your candidate, and for the CNMI? Topping the list is to think about how to slow the mass departure of the CWs, and that will definitely affect our economy, for one.

Rudy M. Sablan
Garapan