Originally, Stayman backed NMI autonomy

“Until the Clinton administration’s position is developed, it is wrong for the Democratic-controlled Congress to suggest policy for the Northern Mariana Islands through legislation”, according to former Director of the Office of Insular Affairs Allen Stayman in a 1993 Associated Press story.

“We may not be happy with some of the things that are going on out there, but it is premature to be introducing some of these bills”, he said. “I don’t think that federal government unilaterally should be changing policies on the CNMI”, he said. “They have a right to self-government”. “There are problems and we want to deal with them,” Stayman said.

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These are very interesting statements by Mr. Stayman who subsequently succumbed to playing a key role in dirtying the water where we all drink. Perhaps those were the days when he was still a true partner of the CNMI. But then, there’s also the likelihood that Jeff Farrow, the rumored and quiet evil genius of federalization, must have persuaded Mr. Stayman against his own belief on the sanctity of the Covenant Agreement.

Interesting too that since that time (1993), there was a recommendation for the establishment of the Intergovernmental Agency that was finally created last year. It took six years to establish it and rumors abound that it’s the vehicle to begin laying out the ground work for a virtual federal take-over, among other roles. Last ditch hurrah for a failing agenda on Capitol Hill?

I get the old TTG goose bumps whenever the most inefficient lead federal agency of flag territories steps in to implement a program that should have been implemented three decades ago. I mean, after the “designed for friends only” Fish Scaling program that was held in one of the states in the FSM, that just about broke the camel’s back in the confidence we once had of the US Department of Interior.

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The developmental problems that came with the task of building and strengthening our democratic institutions were never intentional. It’s all part and whole of a relatively incipient democratic entity to which we all will remain continuing students of government. The mistakes that we have made were subsequent rectified with greater strides than any of garment industries throughout the country. Yet, it’s mind boggling why our detractors have elected to ignore our tiny voices.

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In the same period, Congressman George Miller proposed a ceiling on CNMI garment exports to the 1992 level. It included Miller’s statement on HR 997 that would deny duty-free treatment to CNMI exports. The statement runs contrary to frequent encouragement by former OIA directors that we employ the Head Note 3(a) to increase export of apparel products to US markets.

Very few knew then that Miller represents the capital of garment manufacturing, California. It bothered him that the industry he represents has lost to NAFTA and GATT and must find a way to kill Juan so George can live. It’s obvious that the issue isn’t about human rights for there exist far more egregious violations in US mainland factories. But it’s a great tool to advance and shield the textile labor unions` agenda dubbed “reform” by peddlers of Marianas Economic Ruination.

It isn’t a universal value system either unless Miller has redefined and drains it of its profound authenticity contributed by learned men. You see, value is only a value if it is life preserving and life-enhancing. What Miller espouses (after proclaiming to be a paragon of human rights) is what I call “Ready Made Warped
Values” so fabricated by the textile labor unions` designed to annihilate our livelihood. Nice try, Congressman Miller, but you “can’t fool all the people all the time”!