NMI's Central CIP Office
It is a excellent move on the part of the administration to establish a central office for Capital Improvement Projects for the Northern Mariana Islands. It would allow for an organized planning, implementation, folllow-up and up to date information on status of projects for the entire local government.
This office should have been established 21 years at the beginning of our constitutional government. It would have given managers and planners the opportunity to work with organization on infrastructure development and expansion from schools, hospitals, road, water, sewer, power distribution, among others. The non-existence of a central CIP Office has, in recent years, rendered the NMI incapable of draw-downs of funds earmarked for capital projects appropriated under Section 702 of the Covenant Agreement. It apparently delayed plans on how the NMI wishes to spend grant funds in the millions of dollars.
The administration needs to take this step further by establishing a central planning office for the entire local government. This is perhaps a far more vital organ of government that we’ve overlooked since the inception of our constitutional government 21 years ago. Had it been in place and functioning, it would have allowed and encouraged for the formulation of integrated economic plans, timely implementation, revisions and refinement. It would have enabled the NMI to deal with the vicious assaults of the Asian Crisis from the outset.
We all mean well in our daily efforts to improve the economic lot of our people. But we no longer can afford the luxury of off-the-cuff and non-factual instant analysis where we victimize ourselves as a result of lack of organization and direction. Indeed, nothing has been easy nor are answers readily available within arms reach to deal with the deepening crisis. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend that the administration establishes a planning office equipped with experts to develop economic programs, read and digest economic indicators and work in concert with policymakers and the business community in the development of lasting economic ventures.
It should and must be made a continuing function of government and of the entire NMI Community. A step in this direction would be a plus for both the public and private sectors. We would be able to know what the left and right hand are doing in our collective effort to allow for orderly growth and development. We must do away with footloose approach or the usual syndrome of “plan by” eventualities. We must “plan for” the development and attainment of lasting investment plans. Si Yuus Maase` yan !ghilisow
