Rebuilding bridge of stability
At Issue: Ruination of CNMI image–from without and within–has had investors heading elsewhere.
Our View: Stability on policy matters (local and federal) is the only guarantee to luring lasting investments.
Indeed, we have had our bouts with dedicated malcontents who have orchestrated a well planned agenda of destroying the CNMI’s image, the subsequent effect being economic ruination.
The extent of the damage is the same as a fully gutted house reduced to ashes. In the midst of this, well meaning big time investors have come and gone unwilling to risk investing wealth and jobs creation here with lifetime earnings. Reason is pure and simple: The CNMI has turned into an unstable investment venue.
Too, we have basically slammed the door on their faces with news of constant shift on policy matters. The habit of boat change right in midstream every other tidal shift only trumpets a single message: Instability of CNMI policies on investments and just about everything else.
Where we are today is the direct result of our fully greased arrogance and dimwit views. Either that or it is premised on our inability to transcend the politics of self-interest. As such, we’ve shoved aside proactive support of positive measures to aid the business community muddle through these hard economic times.
It is a dereliction of fiduciary duty embracing the scarcity mentality that has resulted in the closure of more than 50 percent of businesses here since four years ago. It’s appalling that even with this dire economic indicator, the boys displayed their merry attitude of “business as usual”.
The good times should have been guarded to the hilt with some money set aside for that rainy day. Perceptually, we thought the good times will never end. Realistically, it’s gone and there’s no telling when external and internal recovery would descend on these isles “as we use to know it”. Must now begin instituting, albeit difficult, the hard lessons of neglect for “the tide waits for no man”. Si Yuus Maase`!
