Thanks to all

Happy Thanksgiving, Marianas! In spite of the Asian financial crisis, local government mismanagement, and repeated federal takeover attempts, we have survived yet another year without encountering a major disaster.

We should all give thanks. We should give thanks to the people who have helped our islands during a very difficult and prolonged economic recession.

Thanks to our private business sector — to the men and women who form the lifeblood of our community: to the people who save, invest, work and produce, so that all of us may benefit.

Thanks to the CNMI Chamber of Commerce and the CNMI Hotel Association, for standing by the CNMI in times of trouble and grave uncertainty. Thanks especially to Ron Sablan and Lynn Knight, for testifying on our behalf in Washington, D.C.– against a potentially disastrous federal takeover policy.

We would be remiss if we also did not take the time to offer a very special thank you to the Saipan Garment Manufacturer’s Association, for sticking by the Marianas despite the enormous special interest hostility directed toward our islands.

With all of the stress from sordid politics (both local and federal), the CNMI’s garment factories might have just packed up and moved to Mexico. Mr. Richard Pierce might have just resigned his SGMA post and retired. (Thanks you for taking it, Mr. Pierce. I know how hard it must have been for you.)

But the good garment folks have decided to remain loyal to these islands. Indeed, some factory owners have decided to make the CNMI their permanent home, branching out into other businesses as well.

Thanks, in particular, to Mr. James Lin and Mr. Willie Tan — two outstanding local businessmen who are here to stay and make the CNMI a better, more prosperous, place.

Thanks also to the many other vital business people, large and small, foreign and local, who continue to risk their precious capital in our over-regulated and often frustrating local market.

Thanks especially goes to all of the industrious nonresident workers (from China, the Philippine Islands and beyond) for their indispensable contributions to our islands, not only economically, but socially, culturally and personally as well.

And, on a more personal note, I extend another special thanks to our publisher, Mr. John S. Del Rosario, for allowing me this splendid opportunity to thank all of you for supporting this fine paper of ours. Thank you, Uncle John. And thank you, Northern Marianas. God bless you all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!