Turning the CNMI around

I have to laugh…seriously. In the past few weeks I have enjoyed reading the paper. It’s funnier than watching a one-legged ice skater.

First, some of the job postings are hilarious. One job posting had the requirements of a master’s degree, the ability to speak three languages, 15 years experience and is generously offering this person $5.05 an hour. I almost got hiccups reading that one because I laughed so hard.

Some people say that they already have a person they want to hire, that’s why the requirements are so high. No, if that was the case, then why advertise? Unless the person they are hiring is a CW. Then that leaves the door open to a discrimination case if someone is hired that has less qualification or someone isn’t given an interview or a fair chance to be hired. Apply at these places and then inquire if the person they hired has these qualifications. They just want to take advantage of the minimum wage on the island. This is an insult and the minimum wage needs to be raised to at least $7 an hour next year.

Then there is all this talk about people leaving the island in 30 days. That is even funnier. The former INS general attorney is telling people they don’t have to go without a hearing. True, but if you get forced out of the county then you are blacklisted from returning. File papers now to have a hearing, simple. I have no sympathy for someone who has been here for 20 years and never filed for a green card and since the date is coming it just dawned on them to get one. Think about it. Whose fault is it that they don’t have one? How about the people who sent all their earnings back home while they worked here and never saved a dime? Whose fault is that?

Why does the CNMI have so many financial problems? Easy, the politicians are looking for ways to raise capital in the wrong places. For the past several years the CNMI could have asked a lot of businesses to come to the CNMI. South Carolina and Mississippi did this many years ago and went from $300 million in the hold to a $300-million surplus. The CNMI can do the same thing. Stop worrying about obtaining more SNAP money and think about obtaining high paying jobs for the God-fearing people of the CNMI. They just need to offer a lot of incentives such that any business from the United States would be educationally challenged if they don’t take the offer. No property taxes, sales tax, federal tax. Most businesses don’t know about these incentives. Throw in a bone or two more and the jobs will come. Contact the businesses, advertise and, they will come.

Why is the CNMI in trouble? For too long it relied too heavily on Asian tourists and did not have a long-term plan. Let me give you a few business ideas: call centers, hubs, agricultural and manufacturing products that could be made here and labeled Made in the USA. No import tax, no federal tax, no property tax, no sales tax. Currently I go to Paseo de Marianas and notice all the wood carvings are made in Hawaii or the Philippines. Why not here? Any business that is failing in the United States can come here.

What can they do for the CNMI? 1. Create high paying jobs (mandated) 2. Beautify the CNMI (in lieu of paying taxes) 3. Fix the CUC (in lieu of paying taxes) 4. Clean the beaches (in lieu of paying taxes) 5. Save the coral reefs (in lieu of paying taxes). Once the mainlanders come here, investments will soar and you will see high-paying jobs that will get the CNMI out of debt. Don’t believe me? It took three years for South Carolina to turn itself around. Property values escalated, homeownership escalated, quality of education escalated. Look up Gov. Carroll Campbell’s achievements and you will discover how amazing it is when politicians put the people first instead of their part or their re-election campaign.

Once this is accomplished and things get turned around, market to the U.S. retirees who want nice weather, good medical care, and a quiet safe environment that they can call home. More than a million U.S. retirees live overseas. Why not in the CNMI? You tell me. They have money, a lot of it, and they spend it. But it takes a step from the CNMI government and the locals to come around first before this happens.

Get high quality businesses on this island that pay decent wages, help the community, and attract high quality people who will spend the money in the community and not send it off island monthly. Then the CNMI will turn around.

Keith Brooks
Dandan, Saipan