A future we can be proud of

On Nov. 14, the Marianas Variety published a press release with the headline “Kumoi joins HY Campaign.” The press release is accurate and I want our voters to further and fully understand what my supporters, my family and I stand for—the critical and urgent need for change in our government.

Earlier this year, I was asked by former governor Babauta to join and assist the Babauta-Torres campaign. I was given the impression and the commitment by both Babauta and Torres that they were both committed to bringing a new future for all the people of the Commonwealth. At that time, I was convinced that Babauta’s and Torres’ principled commitment to better the future of the CNMI was unmatched by any other candidates.

During the campaign, everywhere I go, I met with people and residents who had suffered eight long years of misery under an incompetent government. The hardships are varied and many but the root of the problems were obvious: high utility bills, a failed medical care system, a failed retirement system, lack of employment and education opportunities, rampant crime and drug prevalence and so on. Many households’ livelihoods were impacted by high utility bills that took away a third or more of their incomes, and many households were forced not to even have their lights on. The misery of our people was unbelievable. Our children are living under candlelight conditions. Medical care was simply nonexistent. Our hospital has turned into a morgue. Our retirees had to sell out their principles against casino gaming so that they can survive. Government workers are being fired for their political affiliations. Our people had lost hope. Our people are leaving. We as a community had become no better than people in a third world country. All these were extremely disheartening. The misery drove our energy to bring about change.

After the last election, we were initially disappointed that the Babauta-Torres tandem was not successful. We had worked hard to campaign for a better future of our Commonwealth. We had made a principled stand against the government of Eloy Inos that has failed the people of the Commonwealth. We lost because the Inos Torres’ dirty campaign released retiree checks and CUC vouchers from Best Sunshine just a few days before the election.

It was therefore a complete surprise and shock to the supporters of the Babauta-Torres camp to find out last week that Babauta had officially endorsed the Inos-Torres tandem. The former governor had turned around and switched from his commitment to change. Our principled stand for bringing a better future for our people had been compromised.

In the last Eight years, this government has done nothing to protect our retirees. Eloy Inos allowed the Retirement Fund to collapse. Eloy Inos did nothing to lower our utility bills. Eloy Inos engineered the separation of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation so that he would not have to find funding to support our hospital. Eloy Inos engineered the passage of the casino bill by forcing retirees to support it. Eloy Inos gave away the taxes for 40 years that casino license could have contributed to improving the CNMI. Eloy Inos cannot govern.

We need to stop this misery. We need a government that cares. We need real healthcare. We need affordable utilities. We need a government that protects our resources. We need the government to become responsive to the needs of our people. We need to stand up for a better and brighter future for our children. We need to prevent the Inos-Torres team from continuing malfeasance and incompetence in governing. We need to change.

Therefore, my supporters, my family and I are urging all residents and voters of the Commonwealth to stand up, go and vote to change our government. In particular, we are joining our most respected former governor Carlos Camacho’s call to all the people of the Commonwealth: Our future is dependent on this vote. Go out and vote Heinz-Ray for a bright future.

Ramon ‘Kumoi’ S. De Leon Guerrero
As Perdido, Saipan