A call to action

[I]Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination.—Unknown[/I]

Dear leaders of the Commonwealth:

With all of the problems plaguing the CNMI today, I am urging all of you to put aside political differences and work together to come up with some real solutions to our problems. It does not matter what political party you belong to or what faction you are siding with. For the sake of our people, please shake hands, exchange hugs, and come together to save our sinking ship.

Since you seem to be running in circles, I offer some simple solutions to a few of the CNMI’s most critical issues. The best thing about my advice is it is free, and you can take it or leave it. While are current problems are grave, I firmly believe you all have the talent and ability to solve our problems if you all can just work together. Remember, poor planning and bad decision-making got us into this quagmire. Proper planning and honest, educated decisions by our leaders will get us out.

Please consider the following solutions to our problems:

[B]COMMONWEALTH UTILITIES CORPORATION

Problem: Old, outmoded diesel engines; power distribution problems; management problems; political interference.

Solution: Privatize management of CUC before privatizing its diesel engines or power distribution system.[/B]

Yes, this sounds crazy. But I want you to think about a newly built hotel. Do the owners manage the hotel? Not if they want to be successful and profitable. Owners hire a hotel management team such as Hyatt, Hilton, Westin, or some other reliable, reputable firm. With the right private management team in charge of CUC, we will see immediate results-no more political hires or influence, and certainly no more “special” customers who can rack up a $600,000 CUC debt all the while poor masses get their power cut the instant they are late.

While this idea may seem outrageous, I want you to imagine, just for a few minutes, what Pacific Islands Club or the Hyatt Regency Saipan would be like if it were run by our government. What are some of the potential problems that could arise? How about nepotism, bogus fact-finding missions to exotic destinations, outrageous management and board salaries, poor customer service, unreliable power and water, long lunches, tardiness, and excessive absences, just to name a few? Certainly, inefficiency would lead to bankruptcy, and the hotels would end up being closed in no time.

Make no mistake about it. This can happen, but there must be fairness and transparency. And anyone caught tampering or trying to influence the bidding process should be given a “GO TO JAIL” card.

[B]ROLLING BLACKOUTS AND SURPRISE POWER OUTAGES

Problem: Expensive fuel and a broke government; surprise power outages that wreak havoc on our appliances and electronic equipment; excessive power consumption by our government.

Solution: Raise rates to cover cost of fuel; end surprise power outages by implementing a power outage schedule and ACTUALLY FOLLOWING IT; suspend or fire all government personnel who do not follow a strict government power conservation policy.[/B]

Let’s face it. We cannot expect anymore free rides from our broke government. The government cannot subsidize electricity. Fuel is expensive, and we need to pay the fuel costs. Maybe I’m an idiot, but why can’t the Governor, the House, and the Senate get together and work on ending the rolling black outs? Spend one day together working on viable solutions! At the end of the day, here are a few ideas I hope they would come up with:

A rolling black out schedule that is actually followed and adhered to so that everyone in the CNMI can unplug their appliances and computers and prepare for that special break time. Meetings at offices and work hours are scheduled around those outages. Productivity is improved, while electronics and appliances are saved. Yes, it is that simple!

An answering system for CUC’s trouble desk! All hotels and dozens of public and private agencies have an answering system. What exactly is stopping CUC from following suit? As of right now, most of us don’t even bother to call trouble desk because all we get is a busy signal! Install an answering system and update messages that will announce emergency power outages or failures in the affected areas so that consumers can effectively plan and prepare!

Implement strict policies on power conservation for all government agencies and personnel. Anyone caught leaving lights on during the day or air-conditioners on during non-working hours will be suspended or eventually fired for not complying. I am tired of seeing lights left on in the day and air conditioners left on at night and weekends at government agencies! That is a slap in the face to everyone who does their best to conserve power.

Implement tax breaks and incentives for anyone who is using alternative energy.

Come up with a powerful media and educational campaign to promote energy conservation for all residents and businesses.

[B]COMMONWEALTH HEALTH CENTER

Problem: Astronomical receivables and debt caused by “free” health care; management problems; $8,000 circumcisions.

Solution: Privatize all outpatient services. Have CHC concentrate on inpatient care and treatment, as well as emergency care.[/B]

Yes, privatization again! In case you didn’t know this, CHC is owed millions by people who walk in with the flu and walk out without any payment. When it comes time to collect, they have moved or left island and cannot be located.

The bottom line is, CHC should not be burdened by outpatient care. We have outstanding private clinics and phenomenal private doctors, such as Dr. Ada, Dr. Alou, and Dr. Stearns. Their clinics can and should be handling non-emergency care. What does this mean? That you can no longer walk in to CHC without paying your tab. But what do we do with low-income families who cannot afford health insurance? The answer is Medicaid. Medicaid is the United States health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Our locals who are not working and cannot afford health insurance should sign up for Medicaid. As far as any guest worker who gets treated at CHC, it should be the responsibility of the employer to either provide some type of health insurance or be prepared to pay the medical costs. The end result is CHC will finally have the resources to concentrate on the most urgent needs of our people-inpatient and emergency room care!

As far as that $8,000 circumcision that was headlined in the newspaper recently? Hello, that was elective surgery! Was the boy going to die if he didn’t get a circumcision? Did the mother ever use that brain of hers to think about getting a price quotation or written estimate done right before the surgery? Did anyone realize that it involved an anesthesiologist, a surgeon, nurses, and over an hour in the operating room? Circumcisions are more a cultural or cosmetic thing and it is not a priority! If the mother leaves island without paying the money owed to CHC, who eats the cost? WE DO, THE TAXPAYERS, ONCE AGAIN! Enough!

[B]ARTICLE XII AND LAND VALUE

Problem: Land depreciation; land ownership issues.

Solution: Possible amendments and not abolishment![/B]

I listed Article XII to ensure that our leaders use extreme caution and heed from any talk of abolishing it. Amendments are understandable, but Article XII should not be abolished.

I am not of Northern Marianas descent, or an NMD. Obviously, neither are my parents. When we moved here 34 years ago, my parents knew they could not own land. Did it stop them from leasing land? No. Did it stop them from building a house? No. While my parents lived in the Philippines, Hawaii, Palau, and American Samoa, they fell in love with Saipan’s beauty and forged friendships and ties with some of the warmest, most loving people you could ever hope to find in a lifetime. My parents raised us to always respect local traditions, to embrace indigenous cultures, and to learn from them. My family and I support the intent of Article XII and believe it should never be abolished, as land alienation laws exist throughout the world. Land alienation laws are set up for a reason: to ensure that the indigenous people do not become a minority in their own home. I am confident all native Hawaiians wish they had an Article XII in place.

Possible amendments to Article XII that I might agree to include reducing the indigenous bloodline requirement from 25 percent to 15 percent, or extending leases from 55 years to 75 years, or something that is somewhat reasonable. On another note, I have respect for Ricky Delgado, the President of PTI, but I am somewhat dismayed that he continually pushes for the abolishment of Article XII. Does he not realize that the Philippines also has land alienation laws? Mr. Delgado, I am half-Filipino, yet I cannot go to the Philippines and purchase land because I am a U.S citizen. The Philippines, like most places in the world, set up land alienation laws to protect its people. Why can’t the CNMI NMDs do the same?

My wife is Chamorro, and my children are NMDs. While they will be given property when they turn 18, I still want them to be able to purchase land at reasonable rates. If local land rates skyrocketed to Hawaii rates, could any middle class families here afford to purchase land? Worse yet, what about our local low-income families? I do not want the CNMI to be turned into a Hawaii or Singapore. I love the tranquility of our islands. I hope it to stay that way. But more importantly, I believe our NMDs want it to stay that way.

Because I don’t want to turn this letter into a novel, I have only listed a few problems that require urgent attention. Leaders, our future lies in your hands. We need real leaders capable of making real decisions right now. Many of you have been given the privilege to lead us, but how many of you have the ability to inspire us? My dear leaders, you need to search deep inside your hearts and minds and awaken your God-given abilities to move mountains. I do not buy in to the notion that all of you are tainted or corrupt. But I do believe that many of you are often pressured to compromise your principles in order to get things done. This needs to stop. Please, for the sake of everyone living here in the CNMI, move mountains. Go against the grain. Fight for what is right. Inspire us!

I am sincere in everything I say and hope this letter serves as a call to action. If not, it is only my words and time wasted, but at least it didn’t cost our taxpayers anything.

Leaders, may God bless you and give you the strength to do what is right, and the courage to refrain from doing what is wrong. And please know I will continue to hold candlelight vigils for you at my house during our frequent, unannounced black outs. Please feel free to join me anytime.

[B]Ed Propst[/B] [I]Dandan, Saipan[/I]