The die is cast, let's move on The Issue: The electorate has expressed its sentiment over a set of lawmakers to set the agenda of the new millennium. Our View: The road ahead is far more treacherous than meets the eye. Let's regroup with str

The dominant GOP recaptured legislative majority last Saturday, although some of its trusted incumbents were soundly defeated. Be that as it may, there’s hardly any room to lick wounds in that the agenda at hand calls for serious work and thorough review of policies in our collective resolve to build a brighter tomorrow for our children.

Definitely, the slide of the local economy tops our shopping list of “Things To Do”. There’s a dire need to review current investment policies to grant investors now on island some breathing space to rechart and rebuild burned bridges the collapse of which was triggered by the Asian Crisis. If anything, there’s also the fiduciary duty to review and re-establish stability via positive policies aimed at luring lasting investments. This must be done with a sense of journalistic mind set and proactivity. We owe it to our people whom we represent in our governmental institutions.

The role of leadership becomes even more critical as we prepare to meet the challenges of the next millennium. If this pearly of string of isles known as the Marianas Archipelago is supposed to be “paradise” for its people, then it behooves those charged with the fiduciary responsibility to carve it into just that–paradise–for posterity. And it obviously will require local resolve to face and make difficult decisions however unpopular some of them may be.

For those who are convinced we can do without small businesses, such view is juvenile at best, shortsighted at worst. If you will, it is the contribution of the small business community in Japan (world’s second most powerful economic power) that has served as the “locomotive of the nation’s economy”. Meanwhile, let’s get down to basics and begin anew some serious review of ill-conceived protectionist policies that have contributed to the portrayal of these isles as an unstable venue for lasting investments.

Remember, that prosperity will only be reaped by those who rolled-up their sleeves to do something for themselves. Nothing is ever handed down a silver platter. Roll-up your fancy sleeves. It’s time to buckle down to the business of rebuilding the local economy via wealth and jobs creation measures. Si Yuus Maase`!