12th Legislature takes office Monday

The Issue: The 12th CNMI Legislature takes the Oath of Office this coming Monday in their respective chambers.

Our View: The myriad of substantive issues awaiting resolution is a daunting task and all must converge to begin anew.

The 12th CNMI Legislature will take the Oath of Office this coming Monday, a legal holiday, which also marks 22 years of self-government.

Indeed, we have made great strides in the refinement of our democratic institutions, but we have equally neglected addressing qualitative issues to improve the lot of our people. Understandably, our intentions were derailed by various phenomena, including the effects of the burst of the bubble years, followed by assaults of the
Asian crisis and the unstabling effects of a federal takeover by our detractors.

All these make the task ahead a daunting undertaking for local leadership. It includes, among others, measures that would allow for the development of a sense of value on investment and how prosperity help meet the increasing demands and basic needs of our community. In short, it’s the economy that requires immediate attention by the incoming group of policymakers. We need to expand our horizon so we can see the larger picture in the over all scheme of things.

In the midst of what lies ahead in the task awaiting sober thoughts and reasoned analysis by policymakers, there’s the mounting deficit heading into the $100 million that require retiring. With a significant drop in revenue, such task is next to impossible, but with greater visions and commitment, it isn’t insurmountable at all.
And both sides of the street need to work together on measures to revive the tourism industry, allow for expansion of current investments and rebuild the stability that we once enjoyed across the country and in the global community.

More so than ever before, the NMI needs to seriously review reactionary measures now in our books that have done nothing but stifle growth and expansion here in the last several years. It includes the task of revamping the arcane tax system, protectionist policies that discourage the free enterprise system, to name a few. It also must look into labor laws that are at best band-aid solutions that only encourage more problems than fully thought-out solutions.

Finally, the NMI needs to formulate a short and long term socio-economic plan sanctioned by both branches, an exercise that must include all sectors of the NMI community. It means bringing key people together from the administration, legislative leadership, health, education, public safety, mayors, and others. This group, headed by the governor, should be able to hammer out a reasoned socio-economic plan leaving room for appropriate refinement as we move ahead. With these, we can reach for the stars of prosperity for our children. Si Yuus Maase` yan ghilisow and congratulations to the members of the 12th CNMI Legislature!