To the children of the CNMI

Your governor, senators, and even your teachers are involved in a discussion and debate about mining on the island of Pagan. Many are pushing for the mining regardless of the consequences. While many are worried about the environmental problems, others are pointing for the need of the economic windfall, given the declining garment industry and the need for jobs.

Regardless of what happens, the consequences of mining the island will be your problem and your problem alone. If you read or have your parents read you the editorials, websites, and newspapers, no one is really thinking about you and your future and the future of your children. If they were, they would be asking the governor, senators and even your teachers very hard questions about why are outsiders driving this project? If we are “one people for one direction,” why isn’t the government and the people creating their own company to do the mining that would be owned by the people for the people of CNMI and Pagan? Why aren’t the vast proposed riches being directly shared with children and people of the CNMI? Why isn’t research being done to assure that the mining will not impact the fish stocks and coral reefs of the CNMI? Why isn’t the government taking actions that demonstrate to future stewards that they truly care for your future rather than the future of the tax roles and their own pockets?

Once the digging begins and the money comes rolling in, the vast majority of it will never be seen in the CNMI. Nor will the money ever be used to improve the quality of life for your parents, you and your children. I do not say this out of ignorance as you can find many examples and situations similar to Pagan around the world. The truth after the fact is plainly visible and its consequences plainly felt by the children, not the companies and/or government officials. The truth after the fact is too late because once they start digging on Pagan, they can’t put it back.

You as the future stewards of the islands should be wondering whether all of these folks truly have your best interest in mind. You should be asking lots of questions and some very serious questions about the future and what will be left to you. If there are truly one people of CNMI and one direction, push that direction to be for the one people and not for someone whose own children could not tell you where the CNMI is located, let alone the island of Pagan.

I wish the children of CNMI good luck and I will be praying for your future.

Ken Howard
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