Thanks, Sen. Reyes, a true example of civic virtue!

I want to take this opportunity to thank retiring senator Pete Reyes for his many years of service and for his commitment to the CNMI youth by donating his salary to the scholarship program, which my children and many others benefited from. Kudos to you, senator!

I have known for years that Sen. Reyes was donating his salary and even wrote about his noble gesture when I first learned about it. I just wish we had more politicians and people in the community with full pockets that would follow Pete’s example and do more to help our children who are truly our future. I would like to even suggest that we rename the scholarship program after the senator for his noble deed as we should truly honor, recognize and give people flowers while they live and not wait until they are dead and they know nothing about the honoring of their immortal mark on Earth. Sen. Pete Reyes is a true example of civic virtue putting youth before his own personal wealth and even sacrificing his time to work for free to help us all. Pete is a rare breed and the CNMI was blessed to have him!

While I have not always agreed with the senator on some issues and we have both attacked each other and made fun of each other in public statements, I can’t deny the good in Sen. Reyes. He reminds me so much of many great Washington politicians who have done things like building Boys & Girls Clubs out of their own pocket to help their constituents’ children and how our politicians are supposed to act in the political arena as Pete is a true professional who didn’t hold a grudge against me when we disagreed and I spoke out publicly against him. He would even return my calls and entertain my concerns if I brought them to his attention, unlike many of our politicians who won’t even give you the time of day once they get elected. But I’m glad that it seems Gov.-elect Inos has pledged to follow Pete’s professional example by putting politics aside after the election and doing what is best for the CNMI by using some of the platform ideas and using some of the people from Heinz, Babauta and Deleon Guerrero camps in his administration. We the people can only hope and pray that more of our politicians will try to follow the example of professionalism and civic virtue that surely helped to keep Pete in office for so many years.

Biba to you Sen. Reyes and may God bless you and your family as you have done well and left your immortal and positive mark of civic virtue on the CNMI by giving your time and giving your salary to our youth. Thank you for helping my children and others in the scholarship program!

Ambrose M. Bennett
Kagman, Saipan