Demand for competent people in government

Hotel occupancy went up last month from 74 percent to 79 percent. What does that mean? It means more money for the CNMI Legislature to hire more relatives, more money to waste on useless pet projects. Since the Finance secretary apparently doesn’t have a master plan to deal with “extra income,” it will be wasted instead of spent on enhancing our No. 1 industry, which is tourism. Don’t expect sidewalks, lights or drainage in Garapan. Don’t expect restrooms at our parks, don’t expect zoning in our tourist areas or any planning.

I read in the 2014 GOP platform that they will make a master plan for MVA. MVB (old MVA) was created in 1976. Since then, nine administrations couldn’t make a master plan in 38 years. That’s just one of 117 items the GOP promises to do that should have been done in the past.

Voters, nothing will get done, nothing will be fixed and nothing will get better until you demand the government hire competent, trained, experienced, and tested and 100-percent qualified people to all technical and critical jobs. Even if they aren’t related to you. The director of MVA isn’t on Facebook or LinkedIn or YouTube. I checked PATA and the last entry for the CNMI is in 2011 and we only have seven listings period. Guam MVB has 1,080 listings and the last is July 26, 2014. Voters, we need professional people for our people to work with, to learn from. You have to play with people better than you are if you want to get better. Vote for professionals, candidates that have the experience the CNMI desperately needs.

Candidates, get online!
Jesus Taisague, Edward Deleon Guerrero, Ralph Yumul and Janet Maratita, I see your signs but I don’t see any information on what you will do for us if we elect you. Even FB is OK if you post your positions on the issues so we can make an informed choice.

Be careful, though. Jovita M. Taimanao wrote in her official Senate page Mission Statement, My mission is accomplishing the goals and objectives that I planned to achieve during my terms in office. Those goals and objectives include instilling public trust in the government through transparency, effective communications, trust, accountability, mutual decisions, and win-win situations… She voted for secrecy on the casino bill.

George Camacho. Last year he tried to get a revenue-generating, just one of over 100 such bills, House Bill 17-73 through, which sought to lift excise tax exemptions for laptop and desktop computers worth less than $5,000, which languished in the House, after the bill was amended in the Senate, to include a provision exempting tourists from the 30-percent gaming machine jackpot tax for winnings in licensed casinos, to help entice them to visit and gamble in the CNMI. The bill has sat idle ever since. That was terrific but he votes with the casino guys. That was terrible, and secretive. By the way, Las Vegas, Manila, and Macau get their tax before the winner even leaves the building. Why do we always give all our potential tax money away?

Sen. Frank Cruz, Ray Yumul, Ray Tebuteb, Edmund Villagomez, and Frank Dela Cruz are true representatives of the people and should be retained. Throw all the rest of the bums out. If a man or woman is more worried about their job than their integrity, the CNMI doesn’t need them.

Gary DuBrall
Chalan Piao, Saipan