Spreading misinformation
In the coverage by national dailies about fines assessed certain apparel factories here, there’s the usual recurring use of the term “sweatshop”. I won’t dispute who was assessed how much or what the cumulative amount may be. But I certainly would dispute the mis-use of the term “sweatshop” in the island’s apparel industry. It just doesn’t exist here!
All pertinent enforcement agencies (federal and local) have painstakingly worked with the Saipan Garment Manufacturing Association to ensure the rights and safety of all employees. In fact, a request for proposal to monitor the industry’s code of conduct netted more than ten respondents. SGMA would review these proposals for subsequent decision.
OSHA’s regional office has also declared that “sweatshops” do not exist in the NMI although it is an uphill battle trying to rectify use of the term by a reckless Global Exchange who never had the decency to verify its information before displaying it on its web page. So it’s all a pile of misinformation being picked up by every
Tom, Dick and Harry who wants to sound taller than President Kennedy or Abraham Lincoln. How sad the work of spin masters the net result being injustice being leveled against the NMI almost at will.
Meanwhile, college students have started assaulting the composition of the Clinton administration-backed factory monitoring association–White House Apparel Industry Partnership.
Said Michael Posner, a member of the association and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights: “It’s intended to provide public accountability for companies and a system of monitoring. It doesn’t solve all the problems. But to try to destroy it before it’s even up and running would be counterproductive.
Let’s give it a chance to work and then build on what we learn from it”.
Perhaps we ought to ask these young radicals how would they handle resolution of an issue that has been a part of US History since 1820. The group ought to head out to New York’s 600-plus sweatshops to clean out this mess. When they’re done, move on out West to California where thousands of sweatshops need help staying compliant with pertinent federal labor and state laws. And if you find it difficult dealing with the myriad of issues on employee safety and rights, visit the NMI so we’ll give you briefing and debriefing sessions on how to go about it.
Now, if you can’t stomach your confused sense of purpose, then simply remember this friends: “It’s the economy, stupid!”
Shifting sand in local politics
Issues have become so complicated that the obvious antidote is policymakers who have an inkling of what’s at issue and can think through the myriad of maze that pop-up in the process. In other words, we need educated policymakers who could navigate these issues even in rough waters and still emerge confident of well though-out plans to resolve long-standing issues or new challenges over the first quarter of the next millennium.
When I say “educated” it simply means policymakers who can engage in “educated” discussion of issues capable of sifting through a maze of confusion with the vision and commitment to make a difference. It should be a group of people who can play hard ball pushing aside politically warped agenda in favor of doing the most good for the majority. It is interesting though that aspirants for higher office have convinced themselves they’re capable of handling matters of state. Please, give the electorate a break.
The GOP may come back swinging wildly this midterm election, but even as they try to clear what I call a long neglected jungle, it’ll be the beginning of its own demise. GOP politics will never be same for the next 25 years. In other words, there are quiet but powerful rumblings that would send an earthquake-like destruction in the now even terrain of local GOP land. Hope I’m misreading this situation but then try proving me wrong. Think.
Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune
