Propst demands statement from Torres
Construction workers of Gold Mantis Construction hold a protest rally yesterday near the Garapan Basketball Court. Although the banner in the photo says “MCC,” the Chinese characters written under MCC literally translates to Gold Mantis. The relationship between MCC and Gold Mantis Construction is still unclear. (Erwin Encinares)
A member of the Legislature has come out and challenged Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and other leaders of the CNMI yesterday to step up and make a statement regarding the ongoing construction firm fiasco.
In line with yesterday’s Gold Mantis Construction worker protest, Rep. Ed Propst (Ind-Saipan), who was also present during the MCC International Saipan Ltd. Company’s worker protest last Friday, told all members of the media yesterday that he demands a statement from Torres and Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero.
Propst questioned why Deleon Guerrero was silent on all of the happenings surrounding the ongoing casino construction, going so far as calling it a “black eye to the industry.”
“Why is the executive director of the CCC so silent on all of this? I know that he has been lobbying for an extension on the casino extension and for other things but how can he turn a blind eye? How can he turn away when there are essentially crimes being committed? It’s happening through the casino; sub-contractors should matter,” Propst told the media yesterday.
According to Propst, vendors interested in setting up in the casino require to submit to a background check along with a lengthy 60-page application just to do business with the casino. Propst asked why there wasn’t such “strict background checks for local companies doing business with the casino?”
“This is being broadcasted to the whole world,” said Propst, citing major news organizations that have covered the casino construction in the past.
“I demand that the governor make a statement; that the CCC executive director start making statements about this. This is ridiculous already. We can’t just turn a blind eye to this anymore,” said Propst.
Propst told media yesterday that he was working on a formal letter to question CCC’s actions—or lack of—regarding the pressing matters. According to Propst, CCC has stated that the construction workers were not under their jurisdiction.
“CCC has stated that this is really not their concern—that this is not their area and that this is the jurisdiction of other regulatory agencies. The last time Dept. of Labor Sec. Edith Deleon Guerrero [responded to the protests],” said Propst, later applauding the secretary for responding to the matter even though it was on Good Friday.
“The rest of the leadership of the CNMI cannot continue to turn a blind eye and pretend that this doesn’t exist; it’s really just insulting that here we are, an island trying to build a casino and yet we bring workers here illegally and are hired through companies that aren’t vetted,” he said.
Responding to CCC’s claim that they were waiting for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conclude their investigation before CCC begins theirs, Propst said that’s not soon enough.
“How proactive can you be? You have investigators. You are the CCC. You are a regulatory body. Look at the regulatory bodies in the U.S., Singapore, Macau, and all the other places and see if they fraternize with the licensees. See if they do that. Fraternizing with your very own licensee is absolutely wrong. Where is the code of ethics?” asked Propst.
It would be a political suicide for the governor to make any statement. Keep up the good work, many of our people speak highly of you and matter of fact my uncle from your precinct is proud to have you represent him and his family.
Ed Probst needs to be impeached and removed from office for unethical behavior and for orchestrating these so called labor actions just to get media attention. He is not helping matters only exacerbating an already bad situation. The Governor has nothing to do with a construction company hiring workers illegally so why would the Governor make a statement? CCC Executive Director also has nothing to do with construction companies actions. The CCC regulates GAMING not the pouring of concrete!
Knowing the TRUTH and speak about it, especially, if the TRUTH hits closer to home, is a very difficult fact to admit and be defensive about it. No logical reasoning can penetrate that type of mindset to change and be able to call a spade color black. Instead, he’ll continue to call a spade color red, no matter what. Here is a perfect analogy about the kind of person you are, Isa Lima. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lend you the “tongue of fire” gift; to understand this gift, it depends on your religion class retention, if you attended parochial school.
Ed Probst needs to be impeached and removed from office for unethical behavior and for orchestrating these so called labor actions just to get media attention. He is not helping matters only exacerbating an already bad situation. The Governor has nothing to do with a construction company hiring workers illegally so why would the Governor make a statement? CCC Executive Director also has nothing to do with construction companies actions. The CCC regulates GAMING not the pouring of concrete!
Unethical behavior? Do you call unethical behavior when he is trying to better our way of life within the CNMI and put a stop to corruptions. It is the best thing that ever happen to the CNMi, Ed Propst.
Yes, too bad that we do not have even a couple of more like him so that it could start to “take hold” in getting the rest of the proven failure out.
i think your blind and ignorant. fixing you is a waste of everybody’s time.
Isa Limes…WHAT is wrong with you? Whether one agrees with Ed or not, he, at least, is doing his job. If the governor, as the leader of the Commonwealth, doesn’t speak to the values and principles of our community, then who will? If that isn’t part of his job, whose job is it? Your comments are an offense to every decent and empathetic person in the NMI, Shame on you.
Get together with your other friend and fellow surrogate, named Peacekeeper and make an appointment to see the witch doctor called, Dr. Frog.. He probably can fix both of your baby brains.
Legislator Ed Probst cannot be impeached. A legislator can only be removed by a majority of the members of the legislature via adverse deliberation and adverse majority vote of members of the legislature. He was a high vote getter this last election in his precinct. To remove Probst, one has to deal with his election committee in his precinct. And, you’re right on the governor and CCC not having anything to do with the construction project.
The Governor has nothing to do with a construction company hiring workers illegally so why would the Governor make a statement? CCC Executive Director also has nothing to do with construction companies actions. The CCC regulates GAMING not the pouring of concrete!
Such predicament is happening on his watch and he needs to address such issue. The so call Rairaina of our island chain needs to step up to the plate.
The Governor has the “bully pulpit” which he should use now to “jawbone” and scold. It is important for an elected leader to demonstrate “leadership”. He speaks for all of us, for our laws, for our values as a community. Of course he does not want to add fuel to the fire and wrongly criticize businesses which are vital to our economy. On the other hand he must speak out against unjust practices. Or, do we as a community condone wages less than minimum, substandard housing and workplace conditions? It now sounds like workers walked into a trap. of course they should never have signed on to work when it appears they may have known they were granted a tourist visa. But apparently these workers paid a lot of money just to get a job, and that they were told to “not talk about it to anybody”. Thus there seems to be an enormous deceit on the part of the labor brokers, employment agencies, sub-contractors, contractors, and ultimately IPI-BSI who, as “owners” and as “contracting entities” have total responsibility for this sham. Yes, sham! Governor, please tell us it is not so, and if it “is so”, then tell us it is wrong and that your administration is going to clean it up!
It is very difficult to have a meaningful and intelligent dialogue with a one-sided track mind person. It is like talking to a robotic equipped garage door.
Isa equates to Isa Drive or capitol hill, Lima equates to a fly boy in the national guard and the sum is the Governor’s Military Affairs Representative. Nice try, Mr. Nepotism and how much is your per annum salary Mr. Isa Lima?
Do you have a stuttering problem? The same comment over and over and over again. Dang, EP must be hitting a nerve. I wonder how deep in this mess the Governor really is?
Another headless surrogate running around aimlessly announcing fake news to a mass of people who would not listen. When can you stop making yourselves looking like fools? Don’t you people know the word “SHAME”. LOOK IT UP?
Ed Propst is bringing shame to the island. . . he is merely looking for attention. The Governor doesn’t handle immigration and these illegal tourists came in at the watch of the Federal Immigration and these Illegal tourist knew what they were doing is illegal. The Feds should prosecute every illegal tourist working here.
Maybe on your dreams, Mr. Propst is the best thing that ever happened in the CNMI.
Not sure where you live. We have asked over and over for visa waivers and CW visa programs along with other specialty visas and parole systems to continue the process of bringing in workers at cheap salaries. We ask for it and are responsible for it. This attitude old fashioned attitude of asking others to take care of everything as well as pay for everything has got to go. Hasn’t worked won’t work.
Get your cranial examined by a witch doctor called Dr. Frog. He should be able to prescribe a perfect migraine remedy using his black magic concoction.
The Gov. is at top of the leadership chain and supposed to be the leader of the Commonwealth (although questionable)
No matter what, he is ultimately responsible for ALL of the people AND more so with each and every local Govt. agency to ensure that they KNOW and PERFORM their respective jobs while also ensuring that they all have the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to perform in their respective roles.
AS is with a ships Captain, Bank CEO, or any Company CEO, President of the USA or other head of Nation, ultimately any wrong doings falls back on that person to address any such issues especially when it involve gross wrong doings and scams that affect the people they are responsible for..