A vision for a self-sufficient CNMI

I would first like to address Mr. Ambrose Bennett’s latest imposition on the public consciousness in the form of the editorial forum. I ordinarily don’t comment on his efforts to convince us that without him the rest of us would have no direction. However, this time he had the temerity to imply that if one did not participate in his nonsense, then one was not a genuine candidate.

Let’s be clear. If I am not elected because I don’t participate in a newspaper page-filler exercise, then so be it. My positions on issues concerning the Commonwealth are aired each Thursday at the Multi-Purpose Center. Anyone who wants to seriously listen to or share substantive ideas about the future of the CNMI or who feels the need to vehemently disagree is welcome to come and participate.

The Saipan Tribune editors have also assured me that my comments, views and plans will be published, though I choose not to participate in your forum. To date, they have afforded me this privilege. Perhaps, you missed them in your efforts to ensure that you were adequately in print.

I also read Mr. Bob Emmett’s comments regarding something he forced himself, with great pain, to watch a second time. Mr. Emmett is concerned that none of the candidates, except Pete Tenorio, have an idea of what the job of the delegate entails. I’d like to assure Mr. Emment that one of the other candidates knows what the job entails. That candidate would be me. You may not like my plan and that is OK, but it is a plan. Perhaps, if you actually go to one of the forums or if you should come to hear me speak, you would better be able to hear and understand what I have to say. I heartily agree with you that we who live here deserve better than what we have gotten for the last 20 or so years. Hence, that is my reason for running for the delegate seat.

I have promised nothing except hard work. I promise that it won’t be business as usual for the Commonwealth when I am in Washington. No lies, no pie in the sky promises, no photo ops, no golf, no padding the pockets, just hard work to get the job done. I will:

(1) Introduce legislation for the transfer of the control of the exclusive economic zone and submerged lands surrounding the CNMI from the United States to the CNMI.

(2) Immediately introduce legislation to have an office of the Small Business Administration open in the CNMI.

(3) Immediately introduce legislation to have a Veterans Administration Medical Facility built in the CNMI.

(4) And, if it is still an issue, work to have green cards and/or passports granted to non-American individuals who have immediate relative status in the CNMI.

These are but the first steps in an effort to secure economic self-sufficiency for the Commonwealth.

Those who have kept up with the national news lately must now realize the need for the Commonwealth to be self-sufficient. When the Asian economy slipped, so did the Commonwealth’s. Now, the United States economy is at risk. Bailout after bailout and now, Wall Street. Credit in the U.S. is out the window. When times get tough there, times get similarly tough here. The other candidates’ answer to these issues is to beg for more handouts and somehow convince the Washington establishment that they should have nothing to say about what goes on here. News flash! It just doesn’t work that way. We must start to stand on our own feet.

As Mr. Tony Pelligrino says, we must start to look down and harvest the gems at our feet This won’t be easy and there will be other issues that we must address, but it is a start to a viable economic future for the Commonwealth. I will be happy to meet with anyone or any group to elaborate on my positions.

If you are inclined to hear more, please contact Jeanne Rayphand at 235-9115, 235-5123 or 287-9807 to arrange a time and date. Thank you for your time.