Let them go
I do not want to sound mean or cold but the alien workers who were adversely affected by the closure of the garment industry or closure of any businesses for that matter MUST go home to their country of origin. The CNMI is such a small place that it has very limited resources to take responsibility for these workers. Why can’t the Department of Labor stop engaging in politics and impose the law? No jobs, no stay. Simple. Let the garment companies take care of the repatriation of the workers and take full responsibility for them. While the government and the garment industry association work together to get exemptions from the law, take that as the interim plan of action. It may sound simple, but that’s just how the problem is. Simple!
This is similar to the rules and regulations in the mainland where if the petitioning company closes shop, then the petitioned employees will have to either find a job with another company or if jobs are not found, then they go back home and wait for the next opportunity to come back in. So why will this be a problem? Why are the politicians making a big issue of this when the rules are very specific? The CNMI cannot give what it does not have. We can’t even find a job for 689 of our local citizens; how much more for over a thousand alien workers. Their contract has expired, so let them go; for the benefit of the island and its citizens, let them go.
Maybe when the CNMI has already set its islands in order and when the economic condition has improved, then maybe the immigration doors can be opened again. It’s just like extending your hospitality to friends whom you have taken into your own house at a time when you have the resources to take them in, pay for their health care, you have enough spare rooms in your house to sleep in, then suddenly, you lost your job, you sold your house, you are now renting with very limited resources. Do you still continue with your hospitality? Pragmatism dictates that we have to set our house in order first, before we can even think of hospitality.
Recently, an American Red Cross official said that the island is an island of compassion. We cannot extend compassion when we have no resources to do so. Know what? I have a suggestion. There are over one thousand alien workers that the island is worrying about. The population is over 70,000. So why don’t we ask the legislators, the department secretaries, or each of the citizens of the island to take one alien worker in and feed them, provide for them till whenever. Then let all of them sign a contract with the government that they will act as foster parents for these aliens and pledge to provide for them as necessary. Will they do that? If they will, well and good. If not, why then will you ask the government to do it? Do not ask the government to do something you don’t want to do. Ask how you can help your government solve the problem, not dump your problems on the government.
Buddy Petersen
Bakersfield, CA
