Starting anew, 2001

The Issue: It’s the beginning of a new year, another journey with new paradigms and challenges.

Our View: With vision and commitment, we can enhance the quality of life in these isles.

Often, we jealously hold unto our old ways. We do so not because we can’t adapt to change, but because change is a difficult process in itself.

It is obvious, however, that we need to change our old ways. Otherwise, most of the world community would have marched on to conquer the benefits of the new economy while we play catch-up for the rest of this millennium.

Certainly, we have a simplistic view of how things are done in Washington. It’s a tunnel vision of how our interest should be protected in the two most powerful chambers in the world. Until the CNMI is fully represented in the US Congress, we have no choice but to avail of the services of a professional lobbying firm. Otherwise, we’re chancing the loss of the basic tenets of the Covenant Agreement because we’ve allowed our adolescent ignorance to compromise our rights to self-government.

This grand sense of immaturity must be transcended to guard against a major loss or setback of the local economy. It’s a basic tenet in our rights to self-government. We must guard it with pride. This is the very issue versus federalization, no more, no less!

Through the Covenant, we were able to stand on our own two feet in terms of paying for our own government operations via locally generated revenues. It’s an accomplishment that has yet to be attained by other flag territories. This is the very essence of the Covenant Agreement. We must protect it to the hilt.

Two of our top income earners haven’t done very well over the last year as a result of the Asian crisis, coupled with anti-investment policies approved in recent years. Whatever happens on both sides of the Pacific divide, leadership must keenly watch current discussion of a likely US economic recession. This may adversely affect Japan’s economic recovery. We’ve had more than our share of economic flu fueled by ill-conceived anti-investment policies from within.

We’re grateful though that as the year just receded came to a close, positive notes emerged from vital legislation and an economic plan to spur current and future investments. We have our work cut out for us. Let’s begin the new year with renewed spirit and some semblance of maturity to do what is right. Let’s set it free with a sense of greater vision and commitment to enhance the livelihood of our people. Si Yuus Maase`!