Hope for the future of the CNMI

With all the negative and depressing reports being thrown at us recently, I can only repeat my theme song: “Developing our human resources must become a national priority regardless of costs if we are to become economically strong.”

Here is a quote from Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore:

[I]“Singapore’s success is due to the ability and industry of our young people, willing and eager to learn, prepared to work hard and pay their way in the world, finding pride and pleasure in constructive endeavor….There is no law in nature which provides that life will get better next year. We have to work to make it better.”[/I]

The one question that pops up whenever we read the history of successful countries is the high development of their human capital. Each country devoted tremendous energy to creating an intelligent work force. It created incentives for its youth to study and become professionals needed to work the industries that propel a nation into economic stability.

These successful countries also trained skillful tradesmen. Those that didn’t want to become professionals turned to trades schools so that the industries would have trained workers to operate them intelligently. Working with strategic plans and goals, its well educated workforce ventured into creating opportunities that created jobs and wealth. In summary, both categories of workers are drastically needed if we are to become economically successful.

What is our attitude toward the statements above? Do we accept the fact that only our citizens can build a sustainable strong country? When will we understand that we must become less dependent on nonresident workers? Will our youth ever become entrepreneurs in our own land? What is the most important thing we must do to recapture the vitality needed to become prosperous again?

To point out several glaring sad examples in our system. The CUC has just been awarded $3.8 million to repair several of the engines. That is good. But who within CUC can do the repair work? Will we have to go outside for help? How many electrical engineers are employed at CUC? How many of the employees are trained certified electricians, fully knowledgeable of generators? Will the repairs be repaired by the same people who allowed the engines to fall into disrepair?

How many economists are employed by the government to do constant research and monitor our economy? Is there a schooled hydrologist employed in the water department? How many of our present government agencies have a degree or advanced study in the position they have been placed in? What studies do any of the above do daily, weekly, monthly to improve their ability to lead? If I am incorrect on the above, please quickly set me straight. I don’t want to go around spreading untruths.

When I see businesses closing down on Saipan, I am saddened that it is happening. But on the other hand I see this as an opportunity for us residents. Most of these businesses are owned and operated by foreign investors. As they leave we must step in firmly and conduct our own small businesses. This is a prime time for us to become entrepreneurs. It doesn’t take a lot of money. But it takes a lot of desire and determination.

It is time we see the acres of diamonds under our feet. It is time we step forward and take risks to create and control our own destiny. We have successfully escaped the yoke of foreign political occupation, but we have substituted that yoke for one of economic domination by outsiders. Except for a handful of venturesome residents, the majority of us have opted to join the government workforce, or not work at all, thereby creating a vacuum for foreign investors to fill. As result a horde of our potentially skilled workforce lie idle, just waiting for the next food stamps. Sad!

During this period of flux, we must evaluate the course we have traveled from. Based on a review of the past, let us take positive steps to develop our human capital which will then surely result in economic power. Consider all the money the U.S government gives us each year. If some of it were to be used to develop our human resources based on definite goals, the results in a short time would be astounding.

Here is another quote from Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore which requires leadership translated into motivation and determination:

[I]“Given the human attributes of a given population and the training skills, knowledge, education, and discipline of a people, it is left to the 1 or 2 percent of the population who are in positions of leadership to make the population give its best.”[/I]

While you ponder on the above, let me relate a parable. Every night when a father came home from work, his children would run and jump into his arms and ask: “Daddy, please play with us?” And almost every night the man would play with his children, sharing games, books and toys.

One night, however the father was unusually tired. So instead of playing with his children, he sat down and began to read his newspaper. His children rushed to him with the same question: “Daddy, will you play with us tonight?” When the daddy told them that he was too tired, they persisted. Finally, the father thought of something to keep them busy while he rested. The father tore out a whole page out of his newspaper. Printed on the page was a map of the whole world.

The father took the scissors and cut the map into many small pieces. Then he said to his children: “Here is a puzzle of the map of the world. Why don’t you go and put the puzzle together?” The father thought that this would keep the children occupied for a long time, but in a few minutes they were back.

The father was amazed. He asked, “You finished the puzzle already? How did you put it together so quickly?” The little girl replied: “It was easy.” And her brother added: “On the back of the world was a picture of a person. We just put the person together, and the world fell right into place!”

Life is all about people. The world is only what we perceive it to be. It becomes better or worse in the manner we occupy it. Saipan, Tinian and Rota are our homes. God has given them to us to do what we will. Here is a favorite story of mine that illustrates what I mean.

One day a preacher was driving along the various farms of his district. He spotted one farm unusually well tended and laid out. The trees were heavy with fruits and the field sprouted many crops ready for harvest. The fences were neatly painted. The livestock appeared fat and well.

The preacher stopped his car and walked over to the farmer hard at work in the field. After greeting him, the preacher remarked: “God has been good to you to give you such a beautiful and bountiful farm. You have been blessed.”

The farmer smiled and replied: “Preacher, you are correct that God gave me this farm to tend, but you should have seen what it looked like when He gave it to me!”

I wish you all a joyous holiday season. May God bring us peace, and may Santa bring us the things that make our children’s hearts sing with joy. Merry Christmas to all!