Students weigh in on takeover issue

The policy debate on the federal takeover in the CNMI presented two documents — the Covenant for those who opposed it, and the reports made by Allen Stayman and George Miller from the camp who favored it.

Sponsored by Mt. Carmel School, this year’s National Forensic League chose to discuss the pros and cons of a federal takeover in a debate participated in by high school students in the CNMI last Saturday.

Citing the provisions contained in the Covenant, speakers from the Marianas Baptist Academy emphasized the role of the Federal government in assisting the local autonomous rule thrive since it was established some 20 years back.

Jai Wug Kim, 12th grader from MBA, underscored the role of the Office of Insular Affairs as the adviser.
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“The OIA has lost sight of its role,” he said.

While the U.S. government failed to deliver its promise to establish a military base on Tinian, then considered to bring economic activities in the CNMI, the OIA came up with a report of labor abuses in the CNMI as the local government made headway in mapping out its own economic future.

Over those years, he added, the CNMI had to pay the high price in “reaching out” to the outside world, paying exorbitant fees in overseas calls to the mainland, while goods delivered had high price tags.

After the CNMI found an ally in the tourism and the garment industries, both facilitated faster and cheaper communication services and delivery of goods, he said.

Amanda Borja from Mount Carmel School, who spoke in favor of the federal take-over, likened the CNMI to a “troubled child” and is in need of help from the parent — the federal government. This help will fix local immigration and labor problems, citing issues enumerated in both Stayman and Miller’s report about the CNMI.

She was rebutted by Estelle Hofschneider from MBA who questioned the role of the “parents as a threat” to the child.

“Why is the CNMI being considered as a child?” she said. After more than 20 years of self-government, the Federal government will compare its maturity on governance which has been established for over 100 years.

Speakers from MBA also questioned the integrity of Stayman and Miller reports.

“Who is his employer? Is it true that he belongs to the democratic party,” Hofschneider said. Miller represented a state where the so-called sweat shops thrive, she added.

“It is ironic to be on the negative side when people cherished self-government,” she said.