Economy: Brink of destruction
At Issue: The Bob Franks bill has secured more than enough co-sponsors for consideration.
Our View: Do detractors here and in Washington have an alternative plan to save these isles?
It’s known as the Bob Franks bill basically designed to end any and all current and future manufacturing in the CNMI be it apparel or any cottage or hi-tech industry in these isles.
The Marianas Office is either ignorant or insensitive of the status of this bill and its impact on the local economy. It was too busy barbecuing (while our house is on fire) with the Senate delegation who is in Washington since last week. It’s the almighty picnic attitude again in royal display.
That Congress would return after the convention recess, the consideration of the Franks legislation seems a definite issue. If it is approved (and members would vote according to their peculiar need for re-election not what’s good for inconsequential non-constituency), the economy of these isles would turn into the hellish hole of our children. We can kiss it with a long adios!
Given that our future is now critically hanging in the balance, do vocal detractors against retaining a powerful lobbying firm to protect our interest have any realistic alternatives other than disoriented and incoherent ramblings in the media?
When the Franks bill destroys the future of our children, therefore, an economy that can’t even revert to the coconut era, where would the likes of Senator Pedro P. Reyes (Slow) and cabal, Juan N. Babauta, and partner Diego Benavente secure wealth and jobs creation for our people? Is abject poverty and hopelessness the legacy they wish to give unto posterity? It seems more so than the contrary.
Well, at least we’re certain that when the effects of the Franks bill begins cascading down the mountain of arrogance and ignorance, the jobless and hopeless locals can march up to Capital Hill and the “other” paper to demand for jobs. Maybe these people have in fact prepared a brighter future–much like Interior’s OIA invisible economic blue print–that never existed from the outset. It’s a do or die situation and–local detractors and others–need to exit their royal grand arrogance and insensitivity and start defending what’s left of the local economy. It’s the livelihood of our people at stake and there’s no option either. Si Yuus Maase`!
