Something’s amiss here or….

Finally, something concrete is happening to the closure of Puerto Rico Dump. It’s an issue with a history replete with the word “address”. After nearly 18 years, it finally moved up a notch to the “resolve” level. It’ll be a costly venture leveling the taller than surrounding buildings of good old Puerto Rico Dump. Well, at least we would have trashed it in Marpi.
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Considering that many of our people have eaten land crabs caught in the march land of Tanapag, testing shouldn’t be limited to just Tanapag residents. Open it up to all islanders who, since the NTTU time, have braved Lower Base and Tanapag for land crabs.

I’ve had my share of it. I think it’s just as appropriate that I volunteer for the test.
And if per chance you’ve eaten land crabs over the last three decades caught in the Tanapag area, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get the experts examine whether that local delicacy that must have crawled in PCB infested soil has gotten the better part of your health, yeah?
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E. Coli has killed at least five people in Canada while hundreds more have been sickened by this bacteria found in the city water. A device that releases chlorine into the water system failed, thus the contamination.
Utility workers never had any inkling of the seriousness of E. Coli. Since May 18, they found the city water contaminated with the bacteria but never reported it to health authorities.

With constant DEQ report of contaminated beaches here with two types of E. Coli, I wonder how many tourists and residents alike quietly endure E. Coli infection. At least DEQ was up to the task warning people to stay away from contaminated beaches.
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The position of the Commonwealth Ports Authority is well taken. It means well in its quest to encourage Continental Airlines to revive direct air services from major Japanese cities. I am not sure, however, that its approach is the appropriate way of handling the issue.

CPA should have pointed out that before the Asian Flu turned into a major regional economic setback, thus the concurrent drop in load factor, the Saipan-Japan route was a profitable venture. Continental has used this route to support its Micronesia-wide operations at the NMI’s expense.

Furthermore, it should have challenged Continental’s social conscience as a corporate citizen in these isles. As the airline dropped direct services, it turned to its thriving mainland operations to make-up for its Micronesian losses. I can understand the economics of its decision.

But then no matter how we attempt to skin the cat, so to speak, it still boils down to bottom line figures at month’s end. It’s a business operation and political muscling isn’t the answer either! I do know that Continental will return direct services when load factor increases.

CPA however, remains the model government agency who proactively seeks answers to assist in our crisis-ridden tourism industry. I am not sure that other agencies can claim the same.
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A visiting friend from San Diego complained of the salty tab water here. I quickly pointed to the Philippine Sea out west in an effort to exit the discussion. Figuring he wasn’t ready to accept my instant excuse, I related: Small Island equals Small Water Lenses.

He quizzed if the desal system is ever considered as an alternative. I related that it is still at the “address” level and it’ll probably suffer the same fate as the Puerto Rico Dump issue of more than 18 years of constant “addressing”.