A New Year’s resolution for political will

Homesteads subdivisions that exist are still not fully developed and people are talking about opening up more. Why the government hasn’t done something to finish completing the existing homesteads that are full of empty lots and jungles? Instead of putting people at the back of the line who really can’t afford to do something with their existing homestead lot and giving it to someone who can, our government has done what it does best—nothing. It is too much like common sense to finish filling up one homestead before opening another one that we can’t afford because it will surely need infrastructure.

I can remember moving into my new home in Kagman with no power, no water and no stores or anything. We have two-lane roads in Kagman III that have turned into “one”-lane roads due to the jungles taking over a “paved” road! Opening up another homestead at this point is like buying a cart with no idea where you will get a horse. I’m not against these people getting their homesteads but I am against the “terrible governance” over the existing homesteads that can still accommodate hundreds if the government ever finds the political will.

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A part-time Legislature and elected attorney general is being discussed once again. The only difference is the new proposal for a part-time legislature clearly demonstrates the power of diplomatic efforts to reach a compromise in the best interest of the people of the CNMI. The amazing thing is that it only took one change in the proposed bill to eliminate the loophole for government employment status by legislative members to change people’s mind. The CNMI will surely need an elected AG due to the pure dynamics of the politics here, which is still driven by a handful of locals who really process all the political power. Until this power structure is truly dismantled or a perpetual and legitimate two party system evolves, there will always be a problem with an appointed AG. The big question is still the same: Will the Legislature have the political will to govern themselves and place the necessary “checks” on the Executive Branch?

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What about our young adults: Before I begin, I want to make it perfectly clear that this is not an attack on the people I’m talking about but an observation. The Northern Marianas College president is already over at the college and now she is the new chairperson of the College Council, which is an organization that advises the college president. Wasn’t there anyone else qualified to give them a chance? An island organization has just re-elected their chairperson, which gives that person both titles of chair and president. Was there no one else qualified? I truly applaud these people for being selected and I’m sure they are more than capable. But it just reminded me why our youth are leaving and why people get so frustrated with the “politics” of becoming someone on this small island—there is no chance for growth.

We have so many people wearing two, three and four hats because we never give new people a chance and I have seen it over and over again in politics, education and in the private sector. We see the same “retired people” still going from one top job to another top job “at will” but our youth have to leave the island just to find an entry level job. There is not that much to go around on this island and its being hogged by a handful. It’s not only the lack of jobs but the lack of any opportunity to grow in the job you have. I’m sure there are other people who could easily fill some of the positions that are being held by people who already have one job but it really gets worse when there is the implication of a conflict of interest. We must make a conscious effort to create more opportunities for new people to get appointments and employee promotions.

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We are still talking about the poker machines being moved almost a decade later, which shows there is no political will on Capital Hill other than picking a fight. It should be clear by now the machines must leave the villages and the only question has been “where.” If people truly want them moved to the hotels, which seems to be a consensus, why doesn’t the Legislature just create a “legal zone” at La Fiesta, which is right across the street from a major hotel.

The biggest political challenge for our government, may not be their political will but their political know-how when it comes to our national politics,” so we must keep praying in church like we do every Sunday for our leaders and hopefully they will eventually learn from trial and error before its too late. We do have some people on Capital Hill who do have the political will and know-how, but the problem is they are outnumbered by the ones who don’t!

I’m calling on all citizens that do pray for our leaders to pray for them to adopt the New Year’s resolution to have political will and maybe, just maybe, we can get something done and start heading in a direction because we are literally dead in the water. Happy New Year and please find some political will on the Hill!