A call to action

I do not have to rehash how bad life has gotten on Saipan. You live it just as I do each and every day. I am sure you feel as bitter and hopeless as most of us do. Many of us have thrown our hands in the air and have given up on believing we can do anything about our current CNMI crises.

Chances are, while things are pretty bad for all of us, we must also think about the suffering being endured by the many families we do not see on a daily basis. It has been said that one-fourth of island residents no longer have electricity. If these and other residents were cut off the grid because they couldn’t afford their utility bill, how far off are you and I? If Aggreko lives up to its promises and restores 24-hour power, it will be a welcome relief. The question is, if our power bills are already outrageous, what will they look like once we finally have 24-hour power via Aggreko?

The truth of the matter is, Aggreko is yet another band-aid solution by Governor Fitial. CUC executive director Tony Muña has assured us all that we will not see any rate increases, because they will be able to produce more power, which will mean more revenue. The one important factor that Tony forgot to include was the fact that in order for CUC to produce more power, they will have to purchase more fuel from Mobil. As it stands now, CUC has received millions in federal and local assistance, yet they still are unable to pay their current vendors, PMIC and Telesource. They needed a loan just to pay their vendors! So what will happen when Aggreko needs to be paid over half a million dollars every single month? (The $500,000 monthly payment to Aggreko does not include fuel as well as other associated costs) We will have to pay for it. Sometime in the very near future, Mr. Muña will come out with a rate increase and will try to justify it on the increasing cost of world oil. But you and I will know the truth, and once again, we will have to look at cutting more costs. Perhaps we will put less food on the table. Perhaps we will take our children out of private schools and put them into the already overcrowded PSS classrooms. Perhaps we will be forced to move. Surely, something will have to give.

We have been thrust into an endless nightmare, and we all want to desperately wake up from it. But we can’t. My question to you is, how much more are you willing to take?

Some critics have claimed that none of us in our community have offered viable solutions. My friend, viable solutions have been given to the governor and to our leaders, and yet, they continue to go unanswered. I am not talking about long-term solutions and I am not talking about nuclear power. I am talking about immediate solutions to our problems.

Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio suggested that Governor Fitial declare the CNMI a “humanitarian disaster” so that we can receive federal aid and intervention from President Bush. How did Governor Fitial respond? “I am already addressing the problem and I have plans but Pete doesn’t have one.” If Governor Fitial’s “plan” was to destroy the CNMI’s economy and CUC, then mission accomplished.

Governor Fitial is ultimately to blame here. Why? Because we would not be in this situation if he never sole-sourced out the rehabilitation and repair contracts for CUC’s failing engines to DCM and CISCO in the first place. The fact that Governor Fitial chooses to sue the federal government rather than to ask for their assistance is incomprehensible. We must all realize that federal assistance is our best immediate solution to our dreadful problems.

With each passing week, more businesses close, and more people leave our islands. How soon before you leave? How soon before you and your spouse, or parents, or children leave? We have a choice here and now. Do we continue to suffer silently, or do we speak unanimously and demand Governor Fitial seek federal assistance? The governor is supposed to govern our people. So far, he has not governed us. He has misled us and misinformed us, and in his infinite arrogance, he continues to defy any solutions offered by our community. We, the people, are the ones in charge of the CNMI. We have the right to elect a governor, and we have the right to remove him as well. Yes, I know you do not want to get involved. Let someone else speak for you; let someone else protest for you. The truth is, we cannot afford to sit by any longer. Your job should be the least of your concerns. Chances are, you are no different than me. You are tired, angry, bitter, confused, and hurt. But the one thing that we cannot give up is our hope for a better CNMI. If we lose hope and we lose faith in charting the CNMI on to a better course, then all is lost. We can make a difference, and we can change things. But you must be willing to play a part.

We have been given the opportunity to govern our islands, and federalization will not strip away those inherent rights. The miserable lives we live today were not caused by the millions of dollars we received in federal assistance from the United States. Our problems stem from leaders unwilling to do what is right and what is best for all of us. Life is all about choices. Do we continue to suffer, or do we something about it? I have called on 1,000 brave citizens to stand up and be counted. My question to you is, are you willing to be one of them? Are you willing to show all of our leaders that we are tired of sitting in the dark fanning ourselves and our children? Are you willing to show our leaders that we are fed up with their unwillingness to call for federal intervention? Are you willing to show our leaders that we have lost faith in their ability to lead? I am ready and willing to stand in front of the CNMI Legislature and the Governor’s Office in a symbolic display of unity. It no longer matters where we come from, what party we belong to, what religion we embrace, or what leader we are related to. What matters is that we come together to show our leaders that we are extremely displeased by their inaction and their inability to find real solutions to our problems at hand.

I have never asked to be a leader, and I do not consider myself one. I am just an average citizen who is fed up with an ineffective, inefficient administration that chooses to sue the United States rather than to negotiate or plead for their assistance. The federal government is willing to help, but they must be invited to the table and not sued. Rep. Ralph Torres was assured that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is ready to step in and help with CUC. But nothing can be done if Governor Fitial continues to fight the federal government. Let us not forget that we are Americans. And as Americans, it is up to us to stand up and fight for what is right. It is a core value of being an American. The anti-American rhetoric must end once and for all.

I am pleading with you to respond to me and tell me you are willing to stand up against corruption and incompetence. If you are willing, please e-mail me so that I will know I have your support. I can assure you, 1,000 brave citizens gathering on Capital Hill will make more than just local news. It will make national news! Let our voices be heard. Let us show the world that we have the courage to gather and make things right. This is not a violent protest. This is a peaceful gathering that is more symbolic than anything. Do you honestly believe that 1,000 brave citizens will do nothing to stir our leaders into a frenzy? Into action? Into actually doing something? I promise you, it can and will make a difference. We are citizens and voters, and the real power truly lies in our hands. It is high time our leaders realize this.

I would like to conclude this with a powerful quote from one of the world’s most influential leaders of all time, President Abraham Lincoln: “Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.”

Thank you for your time and please e-mail me at edpropst@gmail.com if you are willing to be a part of making CNMI history.