Address real problems

I just want to express my disappointment with the governor for once more trying to improve government services by prioritizing diminutive issues in government functions and operations. My motivation for writing this letter stems from a memorandum he sent to all department heads on the subject of “No Smoking and Chewing Betel Nut Policy,” probably reissued at the recommendation of the senior policy adviser, Mr. Ray Mafnas.

It is disturbing that at a time such as this, with the economic depression, incompetence in utility services, and the complete failure to pass a budget for soon-to-be two consecutive years, smoking and chewing on government premises supersedes all these critical concerns. At a time when we are all restricted to approximately three or less hours of utilities per day, the governor thinks enforcing the no smoking and chewing in government offices is an urgent and remarkable action? It has always been enforced, where has he been? If the problem is up on that Hill, then address it there. Everyone knows it’s prohibited in government buildings. Is he running out of ideas and finally giving up on his duties and responsibilities to the people, thereby diverting attention to minute issues such as this?

I hope the majority of government employees agree with me when I say that we perform our best as frontline, clerical, and administrative personnel but we only get the very minimal annual salaries. Yet we ensure that the tasks we perform are complete and are not compounded on our desks. On the other hand, what does the governor have to say about each and every one of his Cabinet members, those whom he just reminded could not even control smoking and chewing in their office? What have they accomplished other than hiring their relatives, friends, or friends of their relatives with enormous salaries? What can the governor say about the CUC crisis? Sept. 16 is fast approaching and I speak for myself when I say it seems more like an administration fantasy than reality; I hope others agree with me.

This governor is so fast to insult, attack, and ruin the morale of the very people who perform the work to keep this government functioning, yet what has he contributed? He is even quick, brave, and bold enough to sue the federal government, for what? For the CNMI misusing federal funds to purchase Rydlyme? Maybe Charles can enlighten us all of the governor’s plans for a better “Better Times.”

I think the average government employee deserves better than to be ridiculed about their personal habits. As a matter of fact, I think they should be commended for doing their job properly and ethically, unlike those that have corrupted, conspired, converted, and cheated the community, all the while remaining “public servants.” I guess the difference between the “c” proponents and the average government employee is the extremely high salaries they receive and the backup generators at their homes.

The truth of the matter is, the only reason elected leaders are up there is because the voting people, not the special status-seeking nonresident workers, trusted them to protect their rights and interests. Unfortunately, this was misconstrued as their right to fill their pockets at the government’s expense and their opportunity to satisfy their personal interests. Other than Greg Cruz’s bickering on the outside, no one up there is willing to stand on their own to defend the people, and when they do they’re told to stop “bitching” and learn from the others, the others who got us in this terrible mess to begin with. Learn to be completely illogical, inflict suffering on your community members, the business sector, ruin the tourism industry, and then instill the modus operandi of “business as usual”…that is the Commonwealth government.

Anyone beg to differ?