In support of COP lease renewal

The request for renewal of Coral Ocean Point’s lease for another 15 years is now before the CNMI Legislature for review. The resort has been purchased by a new group of investors whose plans include improving the current facility and retaining a healthy number of local employees to its team.

But foremost and central for the CNMI in this and other investments is the revival of confidence and trust in investing in the islands. Would the CNMI ably substitute the loss of about $5 billion to $7 billion that was drained from the local economy when investment pioneers from Japan pulled out of the islands in the mid-’90s? How would this be achieved? Do we engage in proactive encouragement or send it reeling in political gamesmanship to our detriment?

It’s a tough query to resolve methodically given the lack of sanctioned socio-economic goals in mind. Such self-inflicted inadequacy and dilemma leaves most folks here quizzing if economic hardship at the pits is something they have to endure for a prolonged period of time.

Indeed, we’ve heard of the saying “The tide waits for no man.” It simply means that this is the season to begin rebuilding the economic foundation of the CNMI and it begins right here and now. The courage of a new set of investors who are risking all their lifetime savings to assist the CNMI in wealth and jobs creation is most commendable and I have nothing short of admiration for donning the attitude of “anchor” investors. In turn, they will be our lifetime partners standing side-by-side to improve the CNMI as the best tropical destination anywhere in Asia and the Pacific.

Revenue generation and innovation begins in private industries. It never begins at the government level. That the CNMI is literally bankrupt makes the case a principled-based decision over political gamesmanship.

Now is the time to confidently reinstitute certainty and stability in the investment climate of the CNMI. We owe posterity their economic freedom. We can revive investment to the level we once knew. It begins with the abundance mindset that we would create wealth and jobs the direct beneficiaries being our people. Yes, we can begin rebuilding the economic foundation of the CNMI. If I may reiterate: The tide waits for no man. Let’s begin today!

Culture of submission backfires

Customarily, disagreements in Chamorro instantly translate into the dissenting person becoming the perceptual or real enemy. In other words, there’s hardly any room for healthy discussion. Not in this culture. Disagreements aren’t points for further discussion. In fact, it becomes the end of any and all discussions even friendship! Woe! I ought to know. I come from this culture!

Coupled with the language barrier, there’s the compounding inability to separate people from issues. Of course, this takes the personal maturation process. In the meantime, a disagreement leads to the use of la kodu (brawl) over la rason (reason). We try to make sense of it usually after a vicious brawl that severs relationships. It’s even nastier if the dissenting view is non-indigenous. It is here where we spout bigoted bilge until we run out of expletives and satanic names.

Yes, I’ve spent time painstakingly probing the evolution of such seemingly adolescent behavior. But we’ve been victims of submission pounded into our heads by our elderly in an effort to instill respect and decorum. Thus, the lack of free discussion to learn and refine the art of free expression. The bottled-up sentiment tightens in the chest like gaseous material seeking relief. When we finally express ourselves, it’s often explosive, unsavory, and humiliating in most cases. Somehow, getting physical is the penultimate way to resolving differences.

I’ve heard explosive exchanges among siblings, friends, and relatives. It reminds me of a joke about a friend who once said that when his wife gets pissed “she gets historical rather than hysterical.” Not to mention the lack of focus from most local folks we run into daily. In the case of our people, it’s both historical and hysterical in most tango when disagreements emerge. And it gets nasty when alcohol is part of the equation.

It gets nastier when we run into statesiders who instantly impose their whitish attitude. You may disagree, but it pays to take a step back and employ listening, learning, and understanding your host. If you don’t like their MOs, that’s too bad. You’re here and must do like the famous adage, “When in Rome do as the Romans do.” I’m not saying don’t say your piece or that you should acquiesce corruption, but find a less than in-your-face way of saying “you’re screwed” or use what they taught us in business school, “How to say no with a smile?”

But there’s the healthy shift to embracing civil and educated discussions. I saw this pleasantry among college students at NMC in several classes where I was invited to join a group discussion relating to Article 12 and other issues. It was very humbling, hearing reasoned discussion with civility from minds. At least I now can take comfort in the fact there’s hope in the permanent shift to looking at issues on their merits premised on a set of factual data. I mean they were quick with the use of “initial apprehension, judgment and reason” throughout most of the discussion.

I’ve learned, as a veteran journalist, the pain of breaking the customary shell of submission. I quit counting how many times my mom chased me around the old kitchen table with her broom for “telling it like it is” involving next of kin. She wanted a son who’s sure-footed but quiet and submissive. I had to tell her, sorry, not this young radical who questions issues not to rabble rouse, but in search of the truth! Of course, she also advised that there are things best left unsaid. I couldn’t agree more, but not on matters of state. I will never compromise on it! And it’s the only sure ticket to strengthening and refining our democratic institutions.
[I] DelRosario is a regular contributor to the[/I] Saipan Tribune[I]’s Opinion Section.
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