CUC forum draws irate public

An estimated 200 people showed up during Tuesday night’s public forum at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe where they vented their frustrations with CUC, offered solutions, and called for its privatization.

A mixture of U.S. mainlanders, locals, and some alien workers filled the center during the three-hour forum that ended at 9pm. It was organized by Rep. Tina Sablan and MP Magazine publisher Ed Propst.

Seen at the forum were Reps. Diego Benavente, Stanley Torres, Ralph Torres, Rosemond Santos, Ed Salas, and Sen. Frica Pangelinan. Salas, Torres and Pangelinan stayed during the entire forum.

“It was a great turnout. People vented their frustrations about CUC, but also offered really common-sense solutions, asked thoughtful and critical questions, and expressed their desire to get organized and demand decisive action from their government,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

She said one of their objectives was to empower the people as ratepayers to be part of the solution to the utilities’ crisis. “The community forum was a good first step in the right direction,” she added.

Among the five demands endorsed by the participants were a formal legislative oversight on CUC; legislation to privatize CUC but with public hearings and review; and hiring a qualified executive director with experience and credentials to run the power utility.

The other demand was to hold an energy summit, bringing all the leaders of the CNMI and the Department of the Interior to one table to work on an energy plan that includes an aggressive energy conservation strategy and renewable energy initiatives.

The fifth demand was a call for CUC’s cooperation on the federal stipulated order to rectify CUC’s chronic water and wastewater violations.

At the forum, businessman and Japanese translator Jim Davies expressed his frustration with the daily outages and fished out $2 as startup fund for a class suit against CUC.

A woman who had just arrived from the U.S. mainland underscored the importance of reviewing CUC’s entire operational system.

Another U.S. mainlander recalled how he once waited for several hours in line just to pay his electric bill.

A businessman who identified himself only as Craig said his small business has been incurring losses due to the outages. He said it is unreasonable for CUC to raise the power rates when they already know that people and businesses have been reducing power usage.

“I’m all for a class action,” the businessman said.

A man who called himself “the old Ed” said CUC’s power distribution has to be privatized. He cited Guam’s “excellent” utility agency under a private firm.

“You will not see much changes at CUC if it is not privatized,” he added.

An Asian businessman who identified himself as Simon said he first visited Saipan many years ago and saw the problems with water supply and power outages. Five years later, he came back to Saipan to live and noticed that the same problems remain.

“I urge Rep. Tina Sablan and the Legislature to file a legislation to build a power plant. We cannot trust the administration!” he said.

At the forum, Propst stressed, among other things, the importance of taking action now to help solve CUC’s problems.

When Propst recognized Rep. Stanley Torres for disputing his power billings, the lawmaker received loud applause from the participants.

Propst also underscored the need to make the privatization efforts as transparent as possible.

Businessman Dave Sablan said a strong message should be sent to the Legislature and Commonwealth leaders that CUC should now be privatized.

“The government should get out of this mess. The private sector can do better,” Sablan pointed out.

A local resident who identified himself as Pete said that people must push for CUC’s privatization.

“We’re frustrated with CUC!” he said.

Columnist Ruth Tighe noted that everybody seems to agree on the need for privatization. She also referred to the call for a new CUC director and a revamp of the agency’s collection unit.

Tighe said the multi-million dollars subsidy for the repair of the power engines should be spread out even to businesses because they are also suffering.

After Tighe’s statement, Rep. Sablan noted that it seems that the general consensus is to privatize CUC.

“As most of you does, I support privatization—privatization with openness, public hearing and public review,” she added.

Chailang Palacios said she agrees with the filing of a class action against CUC but suggested a 50-cent contribution because she, like many others, are poor, drawing laughter from the audience.

Some people said they would dispute their bills to challenge the recent rate increases.

Sablan passed out a sample dispute form, along with a copy of the House legal counsel’s opinion that the recent rate increases were illegal.

Sablan told Saipan Tribune yesterday that all agreed that the next immediate step would be a community forum in Kagman as many residents who wanted to be at the center couldn’t afford the gas.

She said the other step is to hold a peaceful mass demonstration on Capital Hill to present to Gov. Benigno Fitial and legislators a petition for action on their five demands.

The lawmaker said the demonstrators want to appeal to the elected leaders to come out, listen to the people, and respond to their concerns.