On Oct. 21, somebody with the last name of Benavente wrote a letter linking Angelo Villagomez to the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Mr. Benavente claims the monument took away all the best fishing spots and that fishermen now have to go out farther to fish.
Does Mr. Benavente know how to read a map? The monument is 300 miles north of Saipan and I can tell you from stories my father told me that it takes 48 hours of non-stop travel to reach that part of the Marianas.
And fishermen have to go farther to catch fish now? What is farther away than the monument? The only thing north of Uracas is Japan. It isn't even legal for American fishing vessels to fish in Japan! The monument has affected not a single fisherman, especially since the regulations for the monument are two years away. You just got caught in a lie, Mr. Benavente.
But you know what? If Mr. Benavente were to travel to the monument, which I doubt he ever has, he'd be able to fish! The monument only bans commercial fishing! And although I do not know him, I do not believe Mr. Benavente owns a Taiwanese long liner, so were he to ever visit the monument he would be able to catch as many fish as he wanted.
On top of that, Angelo was the strongest proponent of providing for indigenous fishing rights in the monument proclamation. And you know what? President Bush included them! Indigenous fishing rights are now codified in federal law! That never existed for Chamorros or Refaluwasch before Angelo campaigned for them. Talk about defending the indigenous people! Is Mr. Benavente indigenous? Well, guess what? Angelo fought for your fishing rights!
Mr. Benavente then goes on to attack Angelo for being educated. I've known Angelo my entire life and you probably don't know that he worked minimum wage jobs to make it through college. He went to school full time, drove straight to work, and when he got home stayed up late, tired as he was, finishing his homework. I know this because I lived with him at the time. Has Mr. Benavente ever worked a minimum wage job in his life? Angelo has two degrees, is smart and a hard worker and could have a high paying job elsewhere, but he chose to come back to Saipan to work in the low paying non-profit sector. How can you possibly criticize him for that? When he plants trees in front of your children's school or organizes a cleanup in your village, how is that not caring about you?
I recommend Mr. Benavente spend some time reading the declaration for the monument. He would learn that it does not affect local fishermen, but it sure does improve tourism. He'd learn that it is 300 miles away, in a part of the Marianas he's never visited. He'd also learn that recreational, sustenance, subsistence, and indigenous fishing are all allowed in every single inch of the monument, and that his arguments are lies made to discredit someone who cares deeply for his people and who has put into action those things he said he would do.
Mr. Benavente is free to vote for his candidate of choice, but he should not spin outlandish tales of local fishermen having to fish in Japan to put food on their family's tables. Being the first campaign to sling mud reflects poorly on him and it reflects poorly on the candidate that shares his last name.
Alexander Villagomez
Fina Sisu, Saipan
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