Skewed priorities

Can anyone recall Governor Fitial’s “Road Map to Better Times” platform? Fortunately, I can, as I keep a copy of it underneath my pillow to help me dream about the better times that was promised to all of us. Under “The 5 E’s platform,” Fitial and company promised a better education system for our children. And at the top of the “E for Education” list? “…Ensure adequate funding for capital projects, physical education facilities, quality labs and classrooms, and school libraries.”

I have learned over the years that a politician’s promise is about as good as drinking CUC’s tap water—both can make you sick in the stomach. As you may know, Fitial has taken the Community Block Development Grant that was promised to GTC Elementary School to renovate their termite-infested classrooms and will use it to help build a soccer complex in Koblerville.

It is evident that Governor Fitial believes a soccer complex is of greater priority than ensuring that a classroom doesn’t collapse on students’ heads. Perhaps Fitial believes GTC teachers can go back to the basics and just teach their students under a pine tree, or at a pala pala along the beach. The most crucial thing right now that trumps building new classrooms for our children is a soccer complex in Koblerville. Way to go, governor! In addition to the soccer complex, perhaps we can plan a fact-finding mission to Manila. During this very important government-paid junket, we could look into the feasibility of bringing in a peanut butter and shoe factory to Saipan to stimulate our econ… Ooops, scratch that. I’ve just been told that idea has already been explored.

The fact that Fitial prioritizes a soccer field over fixing termite-infested classrooms does not surprise me. After all, this is the same governor who wants to cut everyone’s salary across the board by implementing austerity measures once again, yet somehow finds money to hire more non-essential employees right before election time. Hmmmm, must be nothing more than a coincidence.

Since we’re talking about austerity measures, how about we have our leaders practice what they preach? How about we have Governor Fitial start paying for his CUC bill? How about returning all the government-leased SUVs and luxury sedans? How about we eliminate our House and Senate’s discretionary funds? How about we make it a rule that every government employee has to now pay for their cellular phone bill? How about we pass the Open Government Act to deter secret wheeling and dealing? How about we finally put an end to career politicians by moving to a part-time legislative body?

To our dear children of GTC Elementary School, perhaps you should forget about your education. Apparently, your governor has. What you need is a soccer ball and a soccer complex. With a lot of hard work, determination, practice, and perseverance, you could become the next soccer superstar…the next Pele or David Beckham! And if you don’t? Nephew, no problem! Just support the next governor and deliver two hundred picnic tables and tents for the next few months, and I promise you a job as a technical assistant to the special assistant to the associate director of the deputy director of the next governor’s new “special projects division.” And don’t worry about an education. In the CNMI, it is all about who you know, not what you know!