Rebuilding the NMI economy with a delegate who understands: What is needed

I can’t imagine anyone residing or doing business in the Commonwealth at this time who is not concerned over the deteriorating condition of the economy while at the same time coping with inflationary pressure on disposable income, which continues to increase with the cancerous effect of decreasing the standard of living of most people.

As a retiree I’m certainly concerned as we are told that the Fund could be exhausted in less than 10 years or so. In part this is a result of the deterioration of the islands’ private sector tax base influencing the central government’s inability to make its employer contributions and other payments due the Fund. If you don’t have a vibrant and growing economy, the result is either accept a stagnant economy at current or even reduced levels of economic activity and slip ever backwards to become weaker and weaker.

Of the several solutions advanced to improve the islands’ economic situation, few seem to have been embraced. That leads me to the election of the delegate to the U.S. Congress and the placement of an individual at that end of the political spectrum in Washington who knows the helpful contributions Congress can make in advancing economic growth on the islands. Providing, of course, those contributions are effectively introduced to gain congressional favor.

Other than perhaps age, citizenship, residence and being a registered voter in the NMI, I would doubt there will be any other criteria established for candidate eligibility for the delegate to Congress. And I doubt if any particular level of experience or knowledge are required factors in running for the office which, in my opinion, there certainly should be some level of appropriate background and experience. Hopefully, such traits would ideally become the full measure of the best qualified aspirant in November. Hopefully, that is.

As we have seen, the decline in the economy effects everyone—retired or not, government or private sector employee, business owner or potential investor. The long-term financial health of everyone: government employees, retirees, private entrepreneurs and workers depends on a healthy, growing and vibrant private sector economy providing jobs that pay more than the minimum wage.

Certainly any growing economy will also require government provided services in such areas as education, hospital, police and fire protection and so on. This is where successful experience in the private sector is so important and where it becomes apparent, indeed, essential to have a delegate in the U.S. Congress who understands what the NMI economy needs, what its growth potential is and how the islands can cooperate with agencies of the U.S. government as a productive partner in a self-governing, economically self-sufficient manner with the United States of America.

In my view the person who can do that in Washington is David M. Sablan. Unlike many who may claim 15 to 20 years of political experience which in reality is often only one year’s experience 15 or 20 times over, Dave doesn’t have to waste time learning “on-the-job” he already knows what needs to be done as a delegate.

His vast experience, which includes banking and finance, is too lengthy to even summarize in the space available. In addition to his business and government experience his assignments have included: serving the 702 negotiating team and the commission on federal laws as appointed by President Ronald Reagan. He was the chairman of Employer’s Support for Guards and Reserve in the CNMI and was voted “Micronesia’s Executive of the Year in 2005.”

If the youth of the NMI are to remain and develop their careers at home with their families in the islands—and those who have already left can be convinced to return once again to be with their families and loved ones—they must have good paying jobs and excellent educational opportunities. The NMI’s major export must not be its youth in search for better jobs off island.

There is no way around it—the CNMI’s delegate simply must know what is needed and what will work to get the economy moving again whether it’s a government assistance program, new legislation providing the islands with a comparative advantage of some sort as yet identified through special investment incentive legislation or whatever.

If you believe, as I do, that the economy is the No. 1 issue, ask yourself if a person with a proven track record in providing jobs for the community would be the best choice as a delegate to Congress, which just happens to be the major benefactor of the islands? If so, that person has to be at the top of the list. A person who also knows that not all laws and programs designed for a continental landmass on the other side of the world in the western hemisphere by the United States Congress will always transfer easily to an island economy situated in the eastern hemisphere without some degree of modification and adaptation.

Being the farthest star out in America’s Pacific galaxy, the Marianas geographic position on the doorstep of Asia has economic and political advantages largely unrealized by many in the U.S. Congress other than perhaps those associated with military issues. The NMI’s delegate must work to overcome this deficiency in congressional knowledge and clearly articulate the needs and aspirations of the islands to those representatives who may never visit the islands.

When I called the office of one U.S. senator to obtain some information and mentioned Saipan, the first remark made by staff was, “Is that the island once associated with Jack Abramoff?” How’s that for name recognition and knowledge of the NMI! That must be corrected. I ask you: Who is better qualified to support that effort in Washington?

So I’ll cut to it. In my judgment if you want a dedicated delegate in Washington working hard for the NMI—a person focused on the future and the long-term welfare of the Commonwealth—that person is David M. Sablan.

I do not know if he plans to run for the office or not. If is does, great. If he doesn’t, then at least his achievements and his credentials as I know them to be can serve as a measuring benchmark for comparison by the voters as to the caliber of the representative needed in Washington to get the job done with honesty, integrity and dedication.

Let’s hope he decides to run as a delegate.

Editor’s Note: The personal preference expressed by the author are his own. They are totally unsolicited and unknown to David M. Sablan who has no prior knowledge of Mr. Stewart’s point of view. The author is not even aware Mr. Sablan has any interest in a Washington assignment. However, with many years of economic development experience and as a long-time observer and participant in the NMI’s economy, Stewart exercises his right to an opinion as to who he believes will do a good job in Washington for the people of the Commonwealth and for himself as a retiree and an eventual returning resident.