THE Chamorro economic strategy of doing things “little by little,” is actually a good one, especially when taking on a big task. There is no doubt the task at hand now for the Governor is to literally turn the adversity created by Ralph into prosperity FOR the people. But too often when people are hit with adversity they surrender to and even sometimes drown in the adversity never thinking about how to “reverse-the-situation” — a give-in or give-up attitude. There is often no magic economic-pill, no investor to save-us-all or anything that can immediately create the conditions for a complete reversal but I feel confident in saying that our new Governor is nothing like the previous one and that there is real hope for things to be turned around.
It is critical that WE (the CNMI) start working little by little on “fixing the old & creating the new things to rebuild our economy.”
Turning adversity into prosperity is more about the “mind-set” of those who are challenged than their ability, which is why we see some people just give-up even when their life is at stake because it requires what “lay people” call “thinking & doing outside the box,” but in economics it’s referred to as “breaking & creating paradigms.” There is a world of unfinished economic related issues that Ralph didn’t address or complete, as he was working on restoring Garapan for BOTH of his terms and it’s still not finished. It is critical for our economic FUTURE & PRESENT to begin work on “rebuilding our economy” now as the trust the new Governor wanted has already been restored with his election and I’m sure he’s not going to do anything to change that fact.
There is no doubt that WE, as a people, are facing genuine adversity given the robbery that was orchestrated by Ralph. However, by taking on the smaller projects left undone or never started our economy can begin to start “shoring-up-itself little by little.” In fact, WE the People should already be “part-owners in the IPI Hotel/Casino given We have a larger interest than any of those who have won in Court as WE are now owed 77-million. WE could even be selling our interest by now to raise money” but Ralph and HIS Casino Commission chose to do nothing and just watched everyone else take IPI to Court seeing everything being sold off. Heck, WE are even still paying for FOUR lawyers for Ralph which also needs to stop and let his brother take his case “pro-bono” — for TRUE! It’s time to “put-on-the-brakes” with IPI and paying Ralph’s lawyers as reaching a financial solution with IPI can do a great deal to turn our Economy around.
He depleted and even over-spent the ARPA funds that HIS people were depending upon to get us through what everyone knew would be a difficult stretch for our economy. He didn’t care about breaking the law nor about HIS people which no one can now deny, as many of his die-hard supporters are even in shock. I wish the HOUSE could issue a “persona non grata” to Ralph but it’s reserved for “diplomats.” However, it would be great and pleasing for the People to see a “Resolution of censure & reprimand” informing Ralph and HIS CREW of Senators Cruz, Hofschneider, King-Nabors, and Hocog of their ugly, unethical and even illegal behavior” that got us into this mess that could have been avoided — a lesson learned VOTERS that should never be forgotten, Tinian! WE must now try to turn adversity into prosperity little by little. One People One Direction!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
