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An open letter to the CNMI people
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Posted on Jul 08 2004
If you are truly “one people” for “one direction” then the issue about mining Pagan is very simple. You as a nation form your own company to mine the island. With this company (i.e. Pagan Ltd.), you are the stockholder and you will manage the island for long-term economic stability and sustainability rather than the short-term exploitation of one individual, one mainland corporation and the personal profits of the current government officials.
I would suggest you ask your governor and the senators to pass a resolution that would form a company owned by the CNMI people, for the CNMI people, in which the CNMI people are stockholders and investors in the mining of Pagan.
Then the company should establish a education trust fund where part of the dividends are used so that every child of the CNMI who wants to attend college can go to college at no expense to the themselves or their guardians.
The “one direction” should be the direction where the people of Pagan and the CNMI take control of their own destiny and work with China, Taiwan, Japanese governments and industry (the true markets) to mine, protect and sustain the natural resources of Pagan and the surrounding environment of CNMI for generations to come.
But be careful, as there will be critics who say the people of CNMI are not intelligent or resourceful enough to create a company and mine Pagan for the benefit of all CNMI. I would suggest you prove them wrong and do it quickly before your own government precludes you from showing that you are truly “one people.”
Ken Howard
