Stayman leaving Interior post
I understand that Interior’s OIA helmsman Allen Stayman is leaving his job to take-up the post of negotiator with the State Department for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Belau.
It’s troubling envisioning Stayaman sitting across the table from our Micronesian brothers lording over discussion on future financial assistance. Lest we forget, Stayman has his “favorite constituents” on who gets more grant funds. Recently, Senator Frank Murkowski lambasted Interior for proposing a budget to the tune of $800 million without plans on how to assist insular governments on the brink of bankruptcy.
It brings into focus Stayman’s qualifications hailing from a department (lead federal agency of insular governments) which has royally failed in the establishment of lasting economic investments throughout the region. The last I heard he was peddling aqua-culture for the FSM, a venture that has attracted the attention of national environmentalists for the permanent destruction it leaves behind on marsh land when the venture closes.
However a federal law (Covenant) that mandates Interior to assist the NMI “attain a higher standard of living”, it has done the exact opposite by working (using US mainland taxpayers money) as a lobbyist against the NMI in the US Congress, an illegal use of federal funds now being probed by Interior’s Inspector General. I certainly look forward to such report for it should be fodder for journalists.
In the process, he hired private investigators to scoop up every piece of dirt on perceived human rights abuses (again using US mainland taxpayers money) to prop-up his ill-fated agenda to shut down the apparel industry here. Both the Justice and Labor Departments said before the Murkowski Committee hearing last year that the findings can’t be used because they are “unverifiable”. As you can see, he’s turned from a partner to an adversary and I’m not sure that Micronesian Leadership ought to allow him the opportunity to inflict the same ruinous agenda against the freely associated states.
Obviously, Stayman has confused the role of OIA out here. He’s assumed a policymaking role solely reserved for the US Congress. Therein lies the beginning of what has become a soured relationship between the NMI and Interior. He wanted to lord (micro-manage) the NMI completely neglecting that the islands are self-governing.
We later found out the truth of his bent agenda: He wanted to protect the textile labor unions in California from any stiff competition from Little David in the Pacific. But he’s cleverly used human rights to shield his ulterior motive–asking labor bosses how high must he jump when the command is given by the snap of a finger.
He completely neglected that the people he wanted destroyed are also US Citizens however remotely situated out in the Northwestern Pacific.
Has Stayman offered the NMI economic or industry substitutes capable of cushioning the local economy when the apparel industry is forcibly shut down? NO! Did Stayman and cabal ever defined “standard of living” for the NMI? NO! As confused as he is over his role and the instability he’s inflicted against current and future investments in the NMI by the shifting sand in federal policy, is he really the mediocre federal bureaucrat you want sitting across the negotiating table? Why would you want him as the federal negotiator when he’s done nothing but promote wealth destruction, joblessness and helplessness in the NMI? Guess what: in the midst of a deepening crisis as a direct result of the Asian contagion, he’s agreed to defray the cost of an economic summit here. Gee, does this offer reflect the level of grand incompetency of a man who runs around like some confused stray dog. Someone ought to whistle him back to his senses!
Friends, there’s truth in the saying: “The past indicates the future”. Staymam is the perfect taboo for island governments. We ask the leadership of the freely associated states to write letters of protest against his appointment in that if he’s worked the clock to ruin the NMI, there’s every chance that he’d repeat the same against the freely associated states. I’m not sure that you want someone like him sitting across the negotiating table with a sterling record of ruination and grand incompetency in dealing with insular needs. Tell President Clinton to send him to Navassa Island so he could begin collecting bird droppings. It’s a damn good job for those who failed to see that even islanders defiitely deserve justice.
