Asunton Koñgresso

Rebuilding NMI-Federal Bridge

“This trip is about rebuilding a ruined bridge between the NMI and our country, of the dire need to impress upon ‘Friends of the Commonwealth’, specifically, key national policymakers to listen to our little voices for we equally deserve our economic freedom as any other community throughout the land,” said Speaker Benigno R. Fitial who’s in Washington with the House Leadership.

“The nearly decades-old agenda of a federal takeover of the NMI has gradually fizzled out as detractors see their shields knocked-off their guard as news of the importation of women for flesh trade and young children as slaves spread like wild fire across the country”, he said. “This ought to teach NMI detractors to steer clear of using the Glass House Syndrome to achieve their ends”.

“The House Leadership will meet key members of the US Congress beginning Monday with the vision and commitment to rebuild the unjustified destruction of our image,” he said. “The cost of the smear campaign involving special interest groups have apparently taken its toll on investments in our islands”.

“So much for human rights. The destruction of our image has led to scaring away prospective future investors. If the battle cry of do-gooders is to enhance the livelihood of all workers in the NMI, then the net result has been the complete opposite,” he related. “The destruction of a major sector of the local economy would send thousands into abject poverty and dependency far removed from universal values to enhance and enrich the lives of people throughout the world.”

“This grand hypocrisy needs revisiting by NMI detractors for they have enriched others rather than ensuring meaningful jobs for the very people the current lawsuit intends to protect”, he said. “Critics need to reinvent their shallow perception of the long-term benefits of the House Leadership’s agenda for it is in reform measures currently under review that would enable the NMI a healthy rebound to the prosperity of the late eighties and early nineties ‘as we know it’,” he pointed out.

“The House Leadership’s agenda of ‘wealth and jobs creation’ simply means a commitment to enable current and future investors to come to the islands to establish industries that would kick start slumping revenue generation,” he said. “The establishment of new industries or expansion of current ones would open up job opportunities for young people leaving campus around May and June each year”.

“Indeed, the previous leadership has failed so grandly in this respect and it is through this neglect that we now see more than 40 applicants even for a simple clerical position,” he pointed out. “Shutting the doors of opportunity to provide them jobs down the stretch isn’t my vision nor definition of leadership”. Said he: “We must transcend the old habit of quick fixes in favor of substantive issues that would guarantee greater returns for our people in this millennium”.

“Finally, the presence of standing committee chairmen would enable each of them to review issues like telecom, health, education, commerce and other issues of substance so they gauge what must be done back home using the resources they would have established with committees and think tank groups at the seat of power,” he said. “Unless this is done, the NMI would have to play ‘catch-up’ out of ignorance and complacency. It’s also an excellent opportunity to link with the next President of the United States, Governor George Bush of Texas”.