Stick to teaching!

Mr. Ambrose M. Bennett must understand that his viewpoint on pozzolan mining of Pagan is at best condescending and shallow, and at worst, hollow. There’s nothing new in his views.

Mr. Bennett has obviously decided to flirt with the politics of pozzolan mining on Pagan. He did so presumptuously as to venture saying it’s good for islanders, contrary to the collective sentiment of indigenous Northern Islanders.

Sir, I seriously doubt that islanders will be victors. They’d be victims of pozzolan mining after the dusts have settled down. The carrot and stick approach isn’t going to work this time, sir. We know what we want for our place of birth so your meddling is the least that we need today.

Have you seen the pictures posted on PaganWatch of the before-and-after conditions where pozzolan mining has taken place? Is this what you’re advocating—the total degradation of a pristine environment that would cost more to restore than all the speculative revenue projection proponents present as facts?

There’s other more basic information that you seemingly refuse to see in order that you understand our sentiment. As an educator, we expect substantive contribution from you on this matter. But it seems you simply wanted to mouth off and demonstrate that the old Grand Ostrich is still alive. Embarrassing!

If Azmar lacks credentials and the financial means to conduct pozzolan mining, are we supposed to give it our tacit approval when its proposal is suspect all the way around? A bankruptcy declaration in the future would absolve Azmar from any and all liabilities. This, too, sir, we know by heart.

This will leave islanders with a monstrous environmental destruction that will cost millions of dollars and decades to restore at our expense.

Do we take Azmar’s speculative projection as facts? Do you really want us to believe that restoration after mining would return Pagan to its near original condition? As much as we welcome development, it must be done via fully thought-out plans where the indigenous people are partners of any and all planned projects. We ask for nothing less.

Perhaps you have veered off your teaching profession as to begin flirting with the politics of pozzolan mining. Stick to teaching, sir, and leave the decision of the Pagan mining issue to those who are born to live and die in these islands.

Gus Litulumar
Papago, Saipan