Children of guest workers hold placards along Beach Road during Friday’s unity march which started at Kilili Beach and ended at American Memorial Park’s amphitheater. Photo by Mark Peñaranda
Sunday, December 9, 2007
A NEW FRIEND FOR YOU ALL
JOHN JOHN, IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU STOP FOLLOWING PL15-108. WHAT ARE YOU IMPLIMENTING? THAT THE LOCALS ARE NOT QUALIFIED? Wrong Again! WE DESERVE BETTER THAN $3.05 per hr. ESPECIALLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE.
Chamber’s Guerrero: New labor law bad for business
By By M. Deposa Variety News Staff Saipan Chamber of Commerce Juan T. Guerrero gestures during an interview with Variety at his office on Friday. Photo by Mark Peñaranda
THE president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce says they have no official position on the new labor law, but admits that its implementation will be bad for the business community.
Former Sen. Juan T. Guerrero on Friday said the businesses are particularly unhappy with P.L. 15-108’s provisions requiring the periodic exit of guest workers and restricting transfers.
He said the chamber may reiterate the concerns it expressed when the law was still a bill.
“It is not very conducive for the business community because it has provisions that will certainly impact small and large businesses,” Guerrero said.
He said the new law is also “unclear about many what’s and where’s.”
Guerrero said that as soon as the other members of the chamber submit their comments, they will come up with a unified position regarding P.L. 15-108.
He said they are currently reviewing the implementing regulations.
“The six-month exit and the non-transfer provisions are the things that we’re not too happy about,” Guerrero said. “We recognize the effort of the Legislature to push the business community to hire more local workers which we do not oppose, but the law also imposes too many restrictions that may not be good at this time and may lead to higher costs for businesses.”
He noted that the regulations for the six-month exit provision remain unclear.
On Friday, thousands of guest workers, local residents and businesspersons attended a unity march to express opposition to the new labor law.
Guerrero said the chamber sympathizes with the marchers’ position against P.L. 15-108.
He said the new law will restrict businesses from hiring new people.
“If there’s no local workforce available, who can fill the positions immediately? I don’t think businesses should be restricted from hiring a replacement,” Guerrero said, adding that the law’s impact on businesses should have been considered.
Right now, he added, to help address local unemployment, small businesses should not be exempted from the 20 percent local workforce requirement.
Chamber’s Guerrero: New labor law bad for business
By By M. Deposa Variety News Staff Saipan Chamber of Commerce Juan T. Guerrero gestures during an interview with Variety at his office on Friday. Photo by Mark Peñaranda
THE president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce says they have no official position on the new labor law, but admits that its implementation will be bad for the business community.
Former Sen. Juan T. Guerrero on Friday said the businesses are particularly unhappy with P.L. 15-108’s provisions requiring the periodic exit of guest workers and restricting transfers.
He said the chamber may reiterate the concerns it expressed when the law was still a bill.
“It is not very conducive for the business community because it has provisions that will certainly impact small and large businesses,” Guerrero said.
He said the new law is also “unclear about many what’s and where’s.”
Guerrero said that as soon as the other members of the chamber submit their comments, they will come up with a unified position regarding P.L. 15-108.
He said they are currently reviewing the implementing regulations.
“The six-month exit and the non-transfer provisions are the things that we’re not too happy about,” Guerrero said. “We recognize the effort of the Legislature to push the business community to hire more local workers which we do not oppose, but the law also imposes too many restrictions that may not be good at this time and may lead to higher costs for businesses.”
He noted that the regulations for the six-month exit provision remain unclear.
On Friday, thousands of guest workers, local residents and businesspersons attended a unity march to express opposition to the new labor law.
Guerrero said the chamber sympathizes with the marchers’ position against P.L. 15-108.
He said the new law will restrict businesses from hiring new people.
“If there’s no local workforce available, who can fill the positions immediately? I don’t think businesses should be restricted from hiring a replacement,” Guerrero said, adding that the law’s impact on businesses should have been considered.
Right now, he added, to help address local unemployment, small businesses should not be exempted from the 20 percent local workforce requirement.
Letter to the Editor:‘We are your partners’
YOU HAVE NO SHAME NOR RESPECT COMING OUT ON THE MEDIA BLUNTLY EXPRESSING YOU HAVE THE FULL AUTHORITY TO INFLUX OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. WELL! GET USE TO IT! TAOTAO TANO'S WILL BE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. KEEP THEM NUMBERS...DON'T ASK US TO BE NICE TO YOU AFTER ALL..
mv - Monday December 10, 2007
AFTER my most recent letter to the editor came out, I’ve been receiving some interesting phone calls mostly from locals. The callers represented opposing sides. Some called to ask if I could give them a ride and there were those who called to tell me basically that we, nonresident workers, were taking away what were supposed to be only for locals.
Don’t get me wrong. I love talking to people regardless of from what side they are taking. I take each conversation as a learning opportunity; knowing how they are thinking and why they are thinking that way. I’m writing again not to argue or question anybody’s opinion but to try to explain as objectively as I can my understanding of our role as your guest workers.
We came to your island because your invertors were looking for qualified people to work for their businesses. I’m sure they would have thought initially of hiring locally if the right person is already on island considering that the cost of getting foreign workers and processing the work permits, etc. is not a joke. It’s either you cannot do the job or you do not want to do the job. We are here to fill a need.
Nonresident workers are a vital part of building your island and your economy. There are nonresident workers who have spent 20 or more years of their lives serving you. Isn’t it just right to have a two-way relationship where both parties, nonresident workers and locals, give and not only us are giving and you receiving?
Some callers believed that we’re taking away their share of food stamps. Food stamps are from the federal govenment and not from the local budget. I believe there is enough for everybody who needs it. It’s not that locals are not getting their fair share because we are prioritized.
I sympathize with you if what you are saying is accurate that some Head Start centers are not accepting your kids because they are filled up with the children of nonresident workers. But don’t you think it is an issue that the government should address? We are also paying taxes and so I believe that it is just fair that we can put our children to schools.
Did you realize that with the new labor law, your investors are going to be inconvenienced because businesses will have to slow down as employees are leaving? Companies will be training new employees all over again and then just when the new employees are trained, they need to exit again. This is not to mention the cost of airfare that will be incurred.
I believe that you have every right to enjoy the privileges of being the owners of this island and of being sons and daughters of the great United States of America. But please, do you really believe that now is the right time for this new law? When the economy is almost hitting rock bottom and even our governor is saying we are in a state of great depression, why do we have to make it harder for businesses to survive?
The beauty of democracy lies in the fact that people, regardless of race, are free to express their opinion in a civilized way. I don’t understand why I am getting harassments for expressing my opinion. Please know that we respect you, your laws and your culture. At the same token, we hope that you can also respect us.
I know some locals who are going to our country on a regular basis either for business or medical reason. In fact, some have moved there with their families. We don’t tell them to go home or that they’re taking away what’s ours. Instead we show them our hospitality.
What about the children of the nonresident workers who are born here? Does your Christian heart tell you to ignore the fact that families will be separated or children will suffer?
Because I am only human, sometimes I feel sad knowing that some locals think of us as trying to steal what only they should have. Again and again, I say and I would say it again. We’d like to think that we are your partners. We take because we give. I pray that all of us will have the same motto in life so everybody will be willing to give.
IRENE N. TANTIADO
Chinatown, Saipan
mv - Monday December 10, 2007
AFTER my most recent letter to the editor came out, I’ve been receiving some interesting phone calls mostly from locals. The callers represented opposing sides. Some called to ask if I could give them a ride and there were those who called to tell me basically that we, nonresident workers, were taking away what were supposed to be only for locals.
Don’t get me wrong. I love talking to people regardless of from what side they are taking. I take each conversation as a learning opportunity; knowing how they are thinking and why they are thinking that way. I’m writing again not to argue or question anybody’s opinion but to try to explain as objectively as I can my understanding of our role as your guest workers.
We came to your island because your invertors were looking for qualified people to work for their businesses. I’m sure they would have thought initially of hiring locally if the right person is already on island considering that the cost of getting foreign workers and processing the work permits, etc. is not a joke. It’s either you cannot do the job or you do not want to do the job. We are here to fill a need.
Nonresident workers are a vital part of building your island and your economy. There are nonresident workers who have spent 20 or more years of their lives serving you. Isn’t it just right to have a two-way relationship where both parties, nonresident workers and locals, give and not only us are giving and you receiving?
Some callers believed that we’re taking away their share of food stamps. Food stamps are from the federal govenment and not from the local budget. I believe there is enough for everybody who needs it. It’s not that locals are not getting their fair share because we are prioritized.
I sympathize with you if what you are saying is accurate that some Head Start centers are not accepting your kids because they are filled up with the children of nonresident workers. But don’t you think it is an issue that the government should address? We are also paying taxes and so I believe that it is just fair that we can put our children to schools.
Did you realize that with the new labor law, your investors are going to be inconvenienced because businesses will have to slow down as employees are leaving? Companies will be training new employees all over again and then just when the new employees are trained, they need to exit again. This is not to mention the cost of airfare that will be incurred.
I believe that you have every right to enjoy the privileges of being the owners of this island and of being sons and daughters of the great United States of America. But please, do you really believe that now is the right time for this new law? When the economy is almost hitting rock bottom and even our governor is saying we are in a state of great depression, why do we have to make it harder for businesses to survive?
The beauty of democracy lies in the fact that people, regardless of race, are free to express their opinion in a civilized way. I don’t understand why I am getting harassments for expressing my opinion. Please know that we respect you, your laws and your culture. At the same token, we hope that you can also respect us.
I know some locals who are going to our country on a regular basis either for business or medical reason. In fact, some have moved there with their families. We don’t tell them to go home or that they’re taking away what’s ours. Instead we show them our hospitality.
What about the children of the nonresident workers who are born here? Does your Christian heart tell you to ignore the fact that families will be separated or children will suffer?
Because I am only human, sometimes I feel sad knowing that some locals think of us as trying to steal what only they should have. Again and again, I say and I would say it again. We’d like to think that we are your partners. We take because we give. I pray that all of us will have the same motto in life so everybody will be willing to give.
IRENE N. TANTIADO
Chinatown, Saipan
Letter to the Editor: Respect, love, and kindness
ED? YOU WANT TO PREACH PRAYERS, LOVE AND KINDNESS NOW? NO THANKS.. WEVE SEEN THE REAL SIDE OF YOU.. OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T LEARN MUCH GROWING UP HERE!
mv- Monday December 10, 2007
NOW that the Unity March is over, I want to share my thoughts with my friends and critics on why I supported this march. But before I do, I want to tell you that I am human and am prone to error, that I don’t have all the answers, and that I will continue to make mistakes. But I have learned through trial and error that I am at my best when I choose to listen not only with my head, but also with my heart. I have been forewarned that by coming out against Public Law 15-108, my business will suffer severely.
I see it differently. Any person who would want to stop doing business with me because of our differences of opinion should not be doing business with me in the first place. If I can respect other people’s opposing views, then shouldn’t mine be respected as well?
Rik and Janel Villegas wrote a beautiful article on respect, its importance in our culture, and how respect is attained. I would like to quote part of what they said: “True leaders earn the respect of others by giving back respect. Tyrants and dictators demand the respect of others without necessarily reciprocating that respect back to their subjects. Progression through oppression creates depression; whereas, more can be acquired if people are inspired by their desires.”
I grew up on Saipan, having lived here since I was four years old. Definitely this is my home. I spent a few years away at college and all the while I was gone I counted the days until I could return to my home here on Saipan. My core values and beliefs are more local than anything else I know: I believe in the taotaomona; I have visited and have been healed by a suruhanu; I remember to fangingi not only my wife’s parents and uncles and aunties, but all of our elders. I also know the importance of respecting our elders, something that is so important in our culture. But showing respect does not require that I agree with all of my elders on all counts. If we are to truly make progress here in the CNMI, we need to be able to stand up for what we believe in, but to do it in a way that is not offensive.
When we write letters to the editor that chastise and castigate people, what are we really accomplishing? Yes, I am a hypocrite, because I have done the very thing I am criticizing right now. Indeed, I am a slow learner, but I have finally realized that this is how we lose respect while fomenting anger and hostility — even hatred. We attack each other instead of concentrating on the issues at hand. When you insult a congressman and say that he is an idiot or that he is feeble-minded, it not only hurts him, but it also hurts his family. If someone insulted your father, how would that make you feel? Please do not misconstrue what I am trying to say. I am not defending our leaders’ decisions as I disagree with them on many issues and let them know it. But I seriously doubt they will ever listen to me if I choose to attack them on a personal level.
In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is, before you write your next letter to the editor about a pressing issue or get into a heated debate with someone, please remember to write or speak with respect, love, and kindness. Your words will carry more weight, and your adversary may reciprocate with the same mutual respect. But if he or she doesn’t reciprocate, wouldn’t you feel better that you had taken the higher road and replaced insults with intelligent ideas?
I suppose I have digressed and should get back to why I supported the Unity March. I supported this march because it was a peaceful assembly that brought people together to show their discontent with Public Law 15-108. But it is far greater than just that. It was democracy at its finest hour. It was about exercising our right to speak freely, openly, and civilly about a labor law we strongly oppose.
This long and lengthy labor law is deeply flawed and is certain to bring about an abundance of labor lawsuits. I believe the people who stand to benefit the most from Public Law 15-108 are attorneys practicing labor law. Some have even begun to refer to this law as the Labor Attorneys Employment Act of 2007. Is that what we really want? Even more litigation? Aren’t we already the most litigious society in the entire Pacific Ocean? Is this the kind of progress we’re yearning for and striving to achieve?
I absolutely support the fundamental purpose of this law, which is that “citizens and permanent residents be given maximum opportunity for employment in the public and private sectors of the economy.” However, I believe the law’s means of achieving this worthy goal are flawed.
I have spoken at great length about respect. So I feel I should conclude by speaking of two people whom I have the greatest respect for — my parents. I love them both dearly, and thank them for their unconditional love. No matter how many times I have disappointed them or failed them, I thank them for not giving up on me. They sacrificed so much for their children, and even though we are all grown up now, they still continue to watch over us and guide us. My parents are both Christians and recently e-mailed me something that I believe is fitting and timely with regard to our Unity March: “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who resides with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 19: 33-34.
Whether you are Christian or not, I believe this is a powerful and inspirational passage and words that we should all live by. And whether you are a citizen or non-citizen, I will treat you with respect, love, and kindness. All I ask it that you do the same in return.
May God bless the CNMI.
EDWIN PROPST
President
Pacific Digital Media
mv- Monday December 10, 2007
NOW that the Unity March is over, I want to share my thoughts with my friends and critics on why I supported this march. But before I do, I want to tell you that I am human and am prone to error, that I don’t have all the answers, and that I will continue to make mistakes. But I have learned through trial and error that I am at my best when I choose to listen not only with my head, but also with my heart. I have been forewarned that by coming out against Public Law 15-108, my business will suffer severely.
I see it differently. Any person who would want to stop doing business with me because of our differences of opinion should not be doing business with me in the first place. If I can respect other people’s opposing views, then shouldn’t mine be respected as well?
Rik and Janel Villegas wrote a beautiful article on respect, its importance in our culture, and how respect is attained. I would like to quote part of what they said: “True leaders earn the respect of others by giving back respect. Tyrants and dictators demand the respect of others without necessarily reciprocating that respect back to their subjects. Progression through oppression creates depression; whereas, more can be acquired if people are inspired by their desires.”
I grew up on Saipan, having lived here since I was four years old. Definitely this is my home. I spent a few years away at college and all the while I was gone I counted the days until I could return to my home here on Saipan. My core values and beliefs are more local than anything else I know: I believe in the taotaomona; I have visited and have been healed by a suruhanu; I remember to fangingi not only my wife’s parents and uncles and aunties, but all of our elders. I also know the importance of respecting our elders, something that is so important in our culture. But showing respect does not require that I agree with all of my elders on all counts. If we are to truly make progress here in the CNMI, we need to be able to stand up for what we believe in, but to do it in a way that is not offensive.
When we write letters to the editor that chastise and castigate people, what are we really accomplishing? Yes, I am a hypocrite, because I have done the very thing I am criticizing right now. Indeed, I am a slow learner, but I have finally realized that this is how we lose respect while fomenting anger and hostility — even hatred. We attack each other instead of concentrating on the issues at hand. When you insult a congressman and say that he is an idiot or that he is feeble-minded, it not only hurts him, but it also hurts his family. If someone insulted your father, how would that make you feel? Please do not misconstrue what I am trying to say. I am not defending our leaders’ decisions as I disagree with them on many issues and let them know it. But I seriously doubt they will ever listen to me if I choose to attack them on a personal level.
In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is, before you write your next letter to the editor about a pressing issue or get into a heated debate with someone, please remember to write or speak with respect, love, and kindness. Your words will carry more weight, and your adversary may reciprocate with the same mutual respect. But if he or she doesn’t reciprocate, wouldn’t you feel better that you had taken the higher road and replaced insults with intelligent ideas?
I suppose I have digressed and should get back to why I supported the Unity March. I supported this march because it was a peaceful assembly that brought people together to show their discontent with Public Law 15-108. But it is far greater than just that. It was democracy at its finest hour. It was about exercising our right to speak freely, openly, and civilly about a labor law we strongly oppose.
This long and lengthy labor law is deeply flawed and is certain to bring about an abundance of labor lawsuits. I believe the people who stand to benefit the most from Public Law 15-108 are attorneys practicing labor law. Some have even begun to refer to this law as the Labor Attorneys Employment Act of 2007. Is that what we really want? Even more litigation? Aren’t we already the most litigious society in the entire Pacific Ocean? Is this the kind of progress we’re yearning for and striving to achieve?
I absolutely support the fundamental purpose of this law, which is that “citizens and permanent residents be given maximum opportunity for employment in the public and private sectors of the economy.” However, I believe the law’s means of achieving this worthy goal are flawed.
I have spoken at great length about respect. So I feel I should conclude by speaking of two people whom I have the greatest respect for — my parents. I love them both dearly, and thank them for their unconditional love. No matter how many times I have disappointed them or failed them, I thank them for not giving up on me. They sacrificed so much for their children, and even though we are all grown up now, they still continue to watch over us and guide us. My parents are both Christians and recently e-mailed me something that I believe is fitting and timely with regard to our Unity March: “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who resides with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 19: 33-34.
Whether you are Christian or not, I believe this is a powerful and inspirational passage and words that we should all live by. And whether you are a citizen or non-citizen, I will treat you with respect, love, and kindness. All I ask it that you do the same in return.
May God bless the CNMI.
EDWIN PROPST
President
Pacific Digital Media
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Circle of Idiots
Saipan Tribune Sunday December 7, 2007 Letters to the Editor
'Don't tell me why I voted for my district's candidate' (ROBERT HUNTER San Antonio)
I generally don't feel the need to respond to penned nonsense where a family member is involved, and certainly not when it's Ms. Tina Sablan, who needs no defender. But this time, I found it somewhat offensive that Mr. Gregorio Cruz, a losing candidate in district 5, would begin to presume why I or any other voter for that matter in district 1, cast their vote for Ms. Tina Sablan. I also found it hilariously “ironic” that Mr. Cruz, who basically had his backside handed to him on a tray in this recent election-coming in dead last, a miserable ninth out of the nine candidates running in his district-had the audacity to suggest to Ms. Tina Sablan how she should behave as a representative-elect, let alone how to behave at all. How about that for a big boulder? Was there something that she has said or done that veered from any of her positions that were made crystal clear during the campaign or on her online forum? No.Sorry Mr. Cruz, you are, in my book, a pitiful individual, who plays off the fears of the current economic situation to forward your politics, which are, despite your denials, lined with racism. You can argue that up and down, you can try to disguise it with “calls to lower utility rates” or “bans on fluoridated water”, but the reality is, your members stand by the roadside holding “go home, this is our land” signs and you chime in with “Chamorro” this and “Chamorro” that whenever someone has an alternative point of view or tries to help out our nonresident workers. You use “minority” often when referring to any group you might take issue with. You used it in both of your recent letters in reference to two different groups of people. You can't even maintain the thin disguise of civility you tried to throw up in an attempt to maintain some legitimacy, after the horrendous display that was your group standing by the roadside with the “go home” signs. The problem you have, and thankfully so, is the general public isn't that dumb or that backwards.With regard to Mr. Ron Hodges, Tina was rightly defending his freedom of speech. I didn't care for his letter either, some of it was wrong, some of it was extreme and much of it was distasteful in my opinion, but I understood his concerns and understood that it was not meant to be taken literally. He had every right to voice his opinions, as does everyone else. And there is reasonable recourse to such actions: Write a response. I was a fairly loud opponent of the federal takeover of immigration as far back as the early 1990s. I wrote a number of letters to the editor on the issue, I wrote Congressman George Miller directly, one of my letters was even printed as a full page advertisement in two of the local papers by an anti-takeover group. I was so fierce in my position that I was even questioned by the FBI at the time over remarks I made to and about DOI representative Allen Stayman.While I was young and passionate and maybe a bit harsher than I should have been in retrospect, I am still generally against the federal takeover of immigration. I am now, only because I believe this control is tied directly to what is the most important economic engine of the NMI, its tourism industry. Our ability to tap certain markets, such as the Russian and Chinese markets, is dependent on our ability to let these travelers visit with minimal entry restrictions. There is a reason the Russians have started to come here: They are exempt from having to go through the very difficult and expensive visa process they have to, in order to go to Hawaii, for example. If we do not control this, these and any other foreign visitors can be stopped from visiting here in the future by the feds. And while the feds claim that language in the federal takeover bill will provide for easier entry requirements for these identified travelers, this can change at any time. The visitor industry is a dynamic one. We need to be able to make adjustments with regard to markets immediately sometimes. It would put us at a significant disadvantage if we were to have to wait an inordinate amount of time for the slow wheels of the federal government to turn, in order to have visa waivers and certain restrictions removed for travelers from particular destinations. I believe our own government is in a better position to do this and with incredibly far more speed and flexibility.Having said all of that, there are issues with regard to immigration as it relates to our resident and nonresident workers that make sticking to this position morally difficult for me. Specifically, our immigration policies, while they have helped to meet workforce needs, have also served as a tool to “control” nonresident employees, keep private sector wages artificially low and, through these low wages, deter our resident population's participation in the private sector workplace. I personally feel that we can devise a better and more just solution than simply sending nonresident workers who've lived here and contributed-in some cases for decades and with families-packing.Nonresident workers are a large disenfranchised group, who are much needed, but at the same time need to be provided with the ability to function in the private sector as any resident employee would. This will help level the playing field for resident workers. We can correct this. We don't need to wait for federal legislation, like we did with the minimum wage. Let's do what we can to disarm the feds, so that when the next gunfight begins, they find themselves with less ammunition. Let's do what we can within our power to strengthen nonresident worker rights, not weaken them further.We as a community should correct the inequities we've created. You can't ask why locals aren't working in the private sector, and then support the minimum wage as it is. You can't expect that a business is going to hire a resident, when they can hire a more compliant and less costly nonresident. You can't expect to continue stating that we need nonresident workers, and particularly trained and professional workers and then not expect to pay them equitable salaries commensurate with their work. You can't continue to facilitate a workforce that cannot speak out, that cannot argue for the improvement of their pay or work conditions, that cannot be promoted or vie for better local opportunities. And as much as you say, there are means for our nonresident employees to address these, there are really not. As evidenced immediately after the talk of the “march” became public, a number of folks came out with what I considered subtle threats, suggesting employees could be fired for striking, marching or protesting. This is exactly what is wrong with the system as it is. And I don't believe that the resolution to these inequities needs to be the destruction of lives and families, which is essentially what will be done by uprooting nonresident workers and their families who've been here for substantial periods of time. We are bigger and better than this, and this community is compassionate enough and intelligent enough to come up with a better solution.When Mr. Cruz refers to the group that is calling for the march as the “vocal minority,” he is far from correct. It is more likely they represent a huge quiet majority. A majority that would like to march, but are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like to be paid a better wage, but won't protest as they are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like better conditions, but are afraid for their jobs. We cannot continue to foster such an atmosphere. We control our immigration right now; why don't we do something about correcting this? Why don't we use our immigration and labor laws to strengthen employee rights, why don't we facilitate a scenario that doesn't lead the business owner to feel that they have excessive control over a nonresident employee they've hired? A number of Filipinos have told me that they are simply fearful of marching. Is this the “harmony” Mr. Cruz speaks of? We tell them what to do, and they just shut up and work? If this is “harmony”, maybe we need a bit more of what Mr. Cruz would refer to as “spitting in the soup.”So while I may not agree with Tina on every one of her positions, she has been absolutely clear and straightforward with regard to the positions she does stand for. Unlike Taotao Tano, who, as soon as they received public condemnation for the roadside “go home” protest, backed off immediately and publicly stated that they will focus on CUC and other issues. How about some backbone and some integrity? I've never known Tina not to stand up for what she's spoken for and she's never blown with the wind, based on flak she's received.The Chamorros have proved a strong and resilient people, who have endured through some tremendous historic trials. They have persevered through diseases, wars, and relocations. This is a community more deserving of better leadership than that which Mr. Cruz purports to provide. And a community that was smart enough to know this, based on the recent election results.Tina needs to keep doing just what she's doing. She was elected because she's a good, decent and intelligent person, who takes the overall interests of the community to heart. As a district 1 voter, who voted for Tina, I sincerely hope that Mr. Cruz is the last person she takes advice from. As for telling citizens to “mind their own business”? If you Mr. Cruz and your organization are out there taking actions in the very public manner that you do, that affect the community as a whole, such as standing by the roadside with “go home” signs, yelling about CUC, the fluoridation of water and challenging the Kumho lease, your actions are EVERYBODY'S business. When Taotao Tano becomes a sewing circle and you guys just sit around gossiping amongst yourselves and knitting, then that is YOUR business. You see Mr. Cruz, Tina does not seek power as you claim, Tina has displayed no fear of scrutiny or transparency, Tina seeks to do what she feels is right. This is why, even though I may not agree with her on every issue, I still voted for her. You on the other hand seek power, and attempt to grab onto any issue that you think will “stick” with the public. This is glaringly obvious. Luckily for all of us, you are more the “little brain with the mouth of a megaphone”, than your self-proclaimed, “little man with the heart of a lion.”If you want to see a lion, look in Tina's direction.
Grow a thicker skin (Alan J. Elder Kagman)
“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is afraid of its people.”-John Fitzgerald KennedyWhen I read all the letters to the editor attacking Mr. Ron Hodges regarding his metaphorical comments it makes me wonder. Why is everyone so thin-skinned and threatened by obviously innocuous words? Get a life, people. We have better things to do than waste time at the Legislature on this exchange of protected free speech. You may not like what Mr. Greg Cruz says. You may not like what Ms. Tina Sablan or Mr. Ron Hodges says. But they have the right to express their views. When they want, how they want and whenever they want. Those of you who disagree need to get a thicker skin and just deal with it.
Fair play (Glen Doutrich San Jose)
We want to see if the House will do the right thing. Fair play is an issue here and we will soon see the true side of the Legislature. The House of Representatives recently adopted a resolution condemning a schoolteacher for his public statements on foreign labor in the CNMI. Well, here’s another letter written in the local paper issuing threats directly against you, the Legislature. A threat of physical bodily harm against all members in the “glass house.” Yes, you too Stanley, so what will you do about this? Look the other way, simply ignore it, since it is a “local and not an outsider”?I challenge you to enact fair treatment in this case and handle this just as you did in the case of Ron Hodges.The letter, written by Gregorio Cruz of Taotao Tano CNMI Association Inc., warned Ms. Sablan, to “be careful when you step into the Legislature next year because you will enter your new, ever clear, polished and shiny 'glass house.' There will be more people looking in than you can possibly count. You think that as a congresswoman it will make you all-powerful? Sorry, think again, for people in glass houses better be careful when throwing stones, because those looking in might throw boulders!”So, Stanley T. McGinnis Torres, we are now awaiting your response to see what actions you will take on this threat. This is not simply spitting in a tourist's bowl of soup but a threat to throw boulders directly at you and the whole Legislature. We will be able to see by your actions whether you treat all people and things equally. If your actions are not similar to your resolution condemning Ron Hodges, we will demand to know why. If the same actions aren’t taken here and now then we will know for sure as to what you really are and that being feebleminded, shameless and crooked...., well, where have you heard that before? The ball is now in your court and we are awaiting your action You now have the opportunity to show that the first resolution wasn’t just a racist sham, by treating this threat with the same due diligence and to show your true self. Do the right thing.
In defense of Tina and Ron (Malou Berueco Gualo Rai )
Mr. Cruz, I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan cares if you are disappointed with her stand. She is very intelligent to know, that nobody can please everybody! I know she would care enough if the majority of the people that voted for her are the ones disappointed. I firmly believe that what Tina cares for are the issues that were in her agenda and the platform she had during elections. You should learn how to wait and see. Wait until she's in the office and see if what she's doing is with her agenda. But as far as I know, her reactions to all situations right now are clearly stated in her agenda. Did you read and understand her agenda? If not, you MUST before you talk! And remember, with the agenda she presented, she won! That means people who voted for her believe and support her ideologies. If your ideologies are good and your constituents believe and support you should have won the elections! Remember, Tina won.For the record, Ms. Tina Sablan is not representing us. She is just one of those local residents who think that PL 15-108 is an unfriendly law, both to employers and employees. What irony are you talking about? This is a UNITY march. Meaning, people who will attend this march are not only aliens or residents. Everybody is welcome. And you are welcome to attend too!Had we have the right to vote in the last election, we would not think twice to vote for her! And she would be the FIRST one in rank! Tina is marching not to support alien workers. She will be marching because she knows that PL 15-108 will not do any good to the majority, regardless of your status, race or nationality. Mr. Cruz, I firmly believe that if, in the future, you will organize a march for a good cause, I can say that Tina will be supporting you. And in case, you would need the help of alien residents, I would be most willing to support you. Promise! But make sure that it is for the good of the majority ha? You should have known Tina. How she speaks and handles situations. She was once a member of your organization. I had several conversations and meetings with Tina but NOT even once did I hear her say anything against anybody. Or that she is more protective of alien residents than her own constituents. NEVER!!! There was even a time when she said that some parts of PL 15-108 are good! Tina is just being transparent! And that's what she wants. That's her agenda! And that's why she won! In the case of Mr. Ron Hodges: I am a mother and my son goes to MHS. I asked my son about Mr. Ron Hodges' character as a teacher and the response was positive. I even asked him to read Mr. Ron's “spit on the soup” letter to the editor. After he read, I asked him what he could say or should we do it? And this 10th grader student son of mine replied, “Mom, do not take it literally!” With your and the lawmakers reactions compare to a 10th grade student “who seems to be more intelligent?” Do not underestimate the capacity of everyone in CNMI; we are intelligent enough to understand what people mean when they talk. If we are dumb and our IQ is low, we would have reacted to his sarcastic letter. But not a single nonresident worker did! Aren't we intelligent enough?With regards to the Unity March, I am personally appealing to my kababayan to please join us. Be there and be heard. Let us bring out our fears, pains, frustrations and love with this peaceful march. Ang tagal na po nating natatakot at nanahimik so isang sulok, ito na po ang panahon upang magamit natin ang iilang karapatang mayroon tayo dito, sa matahimik na pamamaraan.There will be a lot of U.S. citizens, both locals and mainlanders, who will march. Let us all march together. Let us not wait for this people who recognize our importance in this community to say to us, as Maricel Soriano said in her movie: “I don't need a parasite!”Let's stand for ourselves, for our rights. One of that is to be heard!
Prejudice (Maria S. Ibanez Gualo Rai)
I think that everyone is being so racist and prejudiced these days. There’s no one to blame except for the government authorities that don’t know how to govern in the first place. If they didn't mess up everything again and again, Ron Hodges would not have written that letter. He should have known better. Known better to use small words for the ones who don't understand metaphors and get offended so quickly. I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan did anything wrong in defending Mr. Hodges. Just because she’s a Chamorro defending someone who is not doesn’t mean that she has forgotten her culture. Come on. It's obvious that Mr. Gregorio Cruz feels threatened by Ms. Tina Sablan. Don't threaten her with stones and boulders. Instead, just fix whatever needs to be fixed here in the CNMI. Maybe one day, we could all stop complaining about how bad the economy is. I look forward to Ms. Tina Sablan's first 100 days in office. Maria S. IbanezGualo Rai, Saipan
Ron Hodges Day (Valrick Welch)
Congratulations legislature on your censure of Ron Hodges. To take advantage of this courageous act you should follow the proud tradition of the British and have a Ron Hodges day; similar to their Guy Fox day. Once a year we could all burn effigies of Ron. You could even name a teddy bear after him.Valrick WelchVia e-mail
More meaningless posturing (John H. Davis Jr. Fina Sisu)
Why in the world are we still talking about Ron Hodges' spit in the soup letter to the editor? The Legislature has a laughable resolution before it to declare the man persona non grata, if that means anything. It's just more meaningless posturing. Others are calling for him to be fired. Gregorio Cruz has gone so far as to attempt to chastise Tina Sablan for defending Mr. Hodges' right to free speech. I now have a question of my own: ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE? Tourism is in the basement, the hotels are losing business, PSS is without funds, schools need books and furniture, boonie dogs are running loose everywhere, the college is just plain out of control, the economy is generally way, way south, unemployment is on the rise, gas prices are going through the roof, the feds are about to take over immigration and the only thing that you people want to talk about is a letter to the editor that means absolutely nothing? Please! Stop talking about it and it will go away. Here is something of substance for the Legislature to work on. How about getting an animal shelter built? Not talked about, not conceptualized, not appropriated for, but actually built. No posturing, no responding to a letter in the newspaper. Do something! The rest of you are welcome to come to sit in my government class so that you might learn a few things about the first amendment, responsibilities of citizenship, social versus political action and a host of other concepts apparently not yet grasped.
'Don't tell me why I voted for my district's candidate' (ROBERT HUNTER San Antonio)
I generally don't feel the need to respond to penned nonsense where a family member is involved, and certainly not when it's Ms. Tina Sablan, who needs no defender. But this time, I found it somewhat offensive that Mr. Gregorio Cruz, a losing candidate in district 5, would begin to presume why I or any other voter for that matter in district 1, cast their vote for Ms. Tina Sablan. I also found it hilariously “ironic” that Mr. Cruz, who basically had his backside handed to him on a tray in this recent election-coming in dead last, a miserable ninth out of the nine candidates running in his district-had the audacity to suggest to Ms. Tina Sablan how she should behave as a representative-elect, let alone how to behave at all. How about that for a big boulder? Was there something that she has said or done that veered from any of her positions that were made crystal clear during the campaign or on her online forum? No.Sorry Mr. Cruz, you are, in my book, a pitiful individual, who plays off the fears of the current economic situation to forward your politics, which are, despite your denials, lined with racism. You can argue that up and down, you can try to disguise it with “calls to lower utility rates” or “bans on fluoridated water”, but the reality is, your members stand by the roadside holding “go home, this is our land” signs and you chime in with “Chamorro” this and “Chamorro” that whenever someone has an alternative point of view or tries to help out our nonresident workers. You use “minority” often when referring to any group you might take issue with. You used it in both of your recent letters in reference to two different groups of people. You can't even maintain the thin disguise of civility you tried to throw up in an attempt to maintain some legitimacy, after the horrendous display that was your group standing by the roadside with the “go home” signs. The problem you have, and thankfully so, is the general public isn't that dumb or that backwards.With regard to Mr. Ron Hodges, Tina was rightly defending his freedom of speech. I didn't care for his letter either, some of it was wrong, some of it was extreme and much of it was distasteful in my opinion, but I understood his concerns and understood that it was not meant to be taken literally. He had every right to voice his opinions, as does everyone else. And there is reasonable recourse to such actions: Write a response. I was a fairly loud opponent of the federal takeover of immigration as far back as the early 1990s. I wrote a number of letters to the editor on the issue, I wrote Congressman George Miller directly, one of my letters was even printed as a full page advertisement in two of the local papers by an anti-takeover group. I was so fierce in my position that I was even questioned by the FBI at the time over remarks I made to and about DOI representative Allen Stayman.While I was young and passionate and maybe a bit harsher than I should have been in retrospect, I am still generally against the federal takeover of immigration. I am now, only because I believe this control is tied directly to what is the most important economic engine of the NMI, its tourism industry. Our ability to tap certain markets, such as the Russian and Chinese markets, is dependent on our ability to let these travelers visit with minimal entry restrictions. There is a reason the Russians have started to come here: They are exempt from having to go through the very difficult and expensive visa process they have to, in order to go to Hawaii, for example. If we do not control this, these and any other foreign visitors can be stopped from visiting here in the future by the feds. And while the feds claim that language in the federal takeover bill will provide for easier entry requirements for these identified travelers, this can change at any time. The visitor industry is a dynamic one. We need to be able to make adjustments with regard to markets immediately sometimes. It would put us at a significant disadvantage if we were to have to wait an inordinate amount of time for the slow wheels of the federal government to turn, in order to have visa waivers and certain restrictions removed for travelers from particular destinations. I believe our own government is in a better position to do this and with incredibly far more speed and flexibility.Having said all of that, there are issues with regard to immigration as it relates to our resident and nonresident workers that make sticking to this position morally difficult for me. Specifically, our immigration policies, while they have helped to meet workforce needs, have also served as a tool to “control” nonresident employees, keep private sector wages artificially low and, through these low wages, deter our resident population's participation in the private sector workplace. I personally feel that we can devise a better and more just solution than simply sending nonresident workers who've lived here and contributed-in some cases for decades and with families-packing.Nonresident workers are a large disenfranchised group, who are much needed, but at the same time need to be provided with the ability to function in the private sector as any resident employee would. This will help level the playing field for resident workers. We can correct this. We don't need to wait for federal legislation, like we did with the minimum wage. Let's do what we can to disarm the feds, so that when the next gunfight begins, they find themselves with less ammunition. Let's do what we can within our power to strengthen nonresident worker rights, not weaken them further.We as a community should correct the inequities we've created. You can't ask why locals aren't working in the private sector, and then support the minimum wage as it is. You can't expect that a business is going to hire a resident, when they can hire a more compliant and less costly nonresident. You can't expect to continue stating that we need nonresident workers, and particularly trained and professional workers and then not expect to pay them equitable salaries commensurate with their work. You can't continue to facilitate a workforce that cannot speak out, that cannot argue for the improvement of their pay or work conditions, that cannot be promoted or vie for better local opportunities. And as much as you say, there are means for our nonresident employees to address these, there are really not. As evidenced immediately after the talk of the “march” became public, a number of folks came out with what I considered subtle threats, suggesting employees could be fired for striking, marching or protesting. This is exactly what is wrong with the system as it is. And I don't believe that the resolution to these inequities needs to be the destruction of lives and families, which is essentially what will be done by uprooting nonresident workers and their families who've been here for substantial periods of time. We are bigger and better than this, and this community is compassionate enough and intelligent enough to come up with a better solution.When Mr. Cruz refers to the group that is calling for the march as the “vocal minority,” he is far from correct. It is more likely they represent a huge quiet majority. A majority that would like to march, but are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like to be paid a better wage, but won't protest as they are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like better conditions, but are afraid for their jobs. We cannot continue to foster such an atmosphere. We control our immigration right now; why don't we do something about correcting this? Why don't we use our immigration and labor laws to strengthen employee rights, why don't we facilitate a scenario that doesn't lead the business owner to feel that they have excessive control over a nonresident employee they've hired? A number of Filipinos have told me that they are simply fearful of marching. Is this the “harmony” Mr. Cruz speaks of? We tell them what to do, and they just shut up and work? If this is “harmony”, maybe we need a bit more of what Mr. Cruz would refer to as “spitting in the soup.”So while I may not agree with Tina on every one of her positions, she has been absolutely clear and straightforward with regard to the positions she does stand for. Unlike Taotao Tano, who, as soon as they received public condemnation for the roadside “go home” protest, backed off immediately and publicly stated that they will focus on CUC and other issues. How about some backbone and some integrity? I've never known Tina not to stand up for what she's spoken for and she's never blown with the wind, based on flak she's received.The Chamorros have proved a strong and resilient people, who have endured through some tremendous historic trials. They have persevered through diseases, wars, and relocations. This is a community more deserving of better leadership than that which Mr. Cruz purports to provide. And a community that was smart enough to know this, based on the recent election results.Tina needs to keep doing just what she's doing. She was elected because she's a good, decent and intelligent person, who takes the overall interests of the community to heart. As a district 1 voter, who voted for Tina, I sincerely hope that Mr. Cruz is the last person she takes advice from. As for telling citizens to “mind their own business”? If you Mr. Cruz and your organization are out there taking actions in the very public manner that you do, that affect the community as a whole, such as standing by the roadside with “go home” signs, yelling about CUC, the fluoridation of water and challenging the Kumho lease, your actions are EVERYBODY'S business. When Taotao Tano becomes a sewing circle and you guys just sit around gossiping amongst yourselves and knitting, then that is YOUR business. You see Mr. Cruz, Tina does not seek power as you claim, Tina has displayed no fear of scrutiny or transparency, Tina seeks to do what she feels is right. This is why, even though I may not agree with her on every issue, I still voted for her. You on the other hand seek power, and attempt to grab onto any issue that you think will “stick” with the public. This is glaringly obvious. Luckily for all of us, you are more the “little brain with the mouth of a megaphone”, than your self-proclaimed, “little man with the heart of a lion.”If you want to see a lion, look in Tina's direction.
Grow a thicker skin (Alan J. Elder Kagman)
“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is afraid of its people.”-John Fitzgerald KennedyWhen I read all the letters to the editor attacking Mr. Ron Hodges regarding his metaphorical comments it makes me wonder. Why is everyone so thin-skinned and threatened by obviously innocuous words? Get a life, people. We have better things to do than waste time at the Legislature on this exchange of protected free speech. You may not like what Mr. Greg Cruz says. You may not like what Ms. Tina Sablan or Mr. Ron Hodges says. But they have the right to express their views. When they want, how they want and whenever they want. Those of you who disagree need to get a thicker skin and just deal with it.
Fair play (Glen Doutrich San Jose)
We want to see if the House will do the right thing. Fair play is an issue here and we will soon see the true side of the Legislature. The House of Representatives recently adopted a resolution condemning a schoolteacher for his public statements on foreign labor in the CNMI. Well, here’s another letter written in the local paper issuing threats directly against you, the Legislature. A threat of physical bodily harm against all members in the “glass house.” Yes, you too Stanley, so what will you do about this? Look the other way, simply ignore it, since it is a “local and not an outsider”?I challenge you to enact fair treatment in this case and handle this just as you did in the case of Ron Hodges.The letter, written by Gregorio Cruz of Taotao Tano CNMI Association Inc., warned Ms. Sablan, to “be careful when you step into the Legislature next year because you will enter your new, ever clear, polished and shiny 'glass house.' There will be more people looking in than you can possibly count. You think that as a congresswoman it will make you all-powerful? Sorry, think again, for people in glass houses better be careful when throwing stones, because those looking in might throw boulders!”So, Stanley T. McGinnis Torres, we are now awaiting your response to see what actions you will take on this threat. This is not simply spitting in a tourist's bowl of soup but a threat to throw boulders directly at you and the whole Legislature. We will be able to see by your actions whether you treat all people and things equally. If your actions are not similar to your resolution condemning Ron Hodges, we will demand to know why. If the same actions aren’t taken here and now then we will know for sure as to what you really are and that being feebleminded, shameless and crooked...., well, where have you heard that before? The ball is now in your court and we are awaiting your action You now have the opportunity to show that the first resolution wasn’t just a racist sham, by treating this threat with the same due diligence and to show your true self. Do the right thing.
In defense of Tina and Ron (Malou Berueco Gualo Rai )
Mr. Cruz, I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan cares if you are disappointed with her stand. She is very intelligent to know, that nobody can please everybody! I know she would care enough if the majority of the people that voted for her are the ones disappointed. I firmly believe that what Tina cares for are the issues that were in her agenda and the platform she had during elections. You should learn how to wait and see. Wait until she's in the office and see if what she's doing is with her agenda. But as far as I know, her reactions to all situations right now are clearly stated in her agenda. Did you read and understand her agenda? If not, you MUST before you talk! And remember, with the agenda she presented, she won! That means people who voted for her believe and support her ideologies. If your ideologies are good and your constituents believe and support you should have won the elections! Remember, Tina won.For the record, Ms. Tina Sablan is not representing us. She is just one of those local residents who think that PL 15-108 is an unfriendly law, both to employers and employees. What irony are you talking about? This is a UNITY march. Meaning, people who will attend this march are not only aliens or residents. Everybody is welcome. And you are welcome to attend too!Had we have the right to vote in the last election, we would not think twice to vote for her! And she would be the FIRST one in rank! Tina is marching not to support alien workers. She will be marching because she knows that PL 15-108 will not do any good to the majority, regardless of your status, race or nationality. Mr. Cruz, I firmly believe that if, in the future, you will organize a march for a good cause, I can say that Tina will be supporting you. And in case, you would need the help of alien residents, I would be most willing to support you. Promise! But make sure that it is for the good of the majority ha? You should have known Tina. How she speaks and handles situations. She was once a member of your organization. I had several conversations and meetings with Tina but NOT even once did I hear her say anything against anybody. Or that she is more protective of alien residents than her own constituents. NEVER!!! There was even a time when she said that some parts of PL 15-108 are good! Tina is just being transparent! And that's what she wants. That's her agenda! And that's why she won! In the case of Mr. Ron Hodges: I am a mother and my son goes to MHS. I asked my son about Mr. Ron Hodges' character as a teacher and the response was positive. I even asked him to read Mr. Ron's “spit on the soup” letter to the editor. After he read, I asked him what he could say or should we do it? And this 10th grader student son of mine replied, “Mom, do not take it literally!” With your and the lawmakers reactions compare to a 10th grade student “who seems to be more intelligent?” Do not underestimate the capacity of everyone in CNMI; we are intelligent enough to understand what people mean when they talk. If we are dumb and our IQ is low, we would have reacted to his sarcastic letter. But not a single nonresident worker did! Aren't we intelligent enough?With regards to the Unity March, I am personally appealing to my kababayan to please join us. Be there and be heard. Let us bring out our fears, pains, frustrations and love with this peaceful march. Ang tagal na po nating natatakot at nanahimik so isang sulok, ito na po ang panahon upang magamit natin ang iilang karapatang mayroon tayo dito, sa matahimik na pamamaraan.There will be a lot of U.S. citizens, both locals and mainlanders, who will march. Let us all march together. Let us not wait for this people who recognize our importance in this community to say to us, as Maricel Soriano said in her movie: “I don't need a parasite!”Let's stand for ourselves, for our rights. One of that is to be heard!
Prejudice (Maria S. Ibanez Gualo Rai)
I think that everyone is being so racist and prejudiced these days. There’s no one to blame except for the government authorities that don’t know how to govern in the first place. If they didn't mess up everything again and again, Ron Hodges would not have written that letter. He should have known better. Known better to use small words for the ones who don't understand metaphors and get offended so quickly. I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan did anything wrong in defending Mr. Hodges. Just because she’s a Chamorro defending someone who is not doesn’t mean that she has forgotten her culture. Come on. It's obvious that Mr. Gregorio Cruz feels threatened by Ms. Tina Sablan. Don't threaten her with stones and boulders. Instead, just fix whatever needs to be fixed here in the CNMI. Maybe one day, we could all stop complaining about how bad the economy is. I look forward to Ms. Tina Sablan's first 100 days in office. Maria S. IbanezGualo Rai, Saipan
Ron Hodges Day (Valrick Welch)
Congratulations legislature on your censure of Ron Hodges. To take advantage of this courageous act you should follow the proud tradition of the British and have a Ron Hodges day; similar to their Guy Fox day. Once a year we could all burn effigies of Ron. You could even name a teddy bear after him.Valrick WelchVia e-mail
More meaningless posturing (John H. Davis Jr. Fina Sisu)
Why in the world are we still talking about Ron Hodges' spit in the soup letter to the editor? The Legislature has a laughable resolution before it to declare the man persona non grata, if that means anything. It's just more meaningless posturing. Others are calling for him to be fired. Gregorio Cruz has gone so far as to attempt to chastise Tina Sablan for defending Mr. Hodges' right to free speech. I now have a question of my own: ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE? Tourism is in the basement, the hotels are losing business, PSS is without funds, schools need books and furniture, boonie dogs are running loose everywhere, the college is just plain out of control, the economy is generally way, way south, unemployment is on the rise, gas prices are going through the roof, the feds are about to take over immigration and the only thing that you people want to talk about is a letter to the editor that means absolutely nothing? Please! Stop talking about it and it will go away. Here is something of substance for the Legislature to work on. How about getting an animal shelter built? Not talked about, not conceptualized, not appropriated for, but actually built. No posturing, no responding to a letter in the newspaper. Do something! The rest of you are welcome to come to sit in my government class so that you might learn a few things about the first amendment, responsibilities of citizenship, social versus political action and a host of other concepts apparently not yet grasped.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
It's a go for 'historic' Unity March
st-Local Friday, December 07, 2007 By Ferdie de la TorreReporter
Rain or shine, everything is set for today's historic Unity March and organizers expect a big turnout for the event, heralded as a show of unity against the new labor reform law, support for federalization of the CNMI's immigration system, and a call for improved status for long-term alien workers.Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal flew from Florida to join representative-elect Tina Sablan and other organizers and supporters during a news briefing yesterday at a pavilion along Beach Road, Garapan.The United Filipino Organization, an umbrella organization of 28 different Filipino organizations, finally broke its silence on the issues with the appearance of its president, Ramon Awit, at the conference.Organizers said Tinian and Rota will also conduct their own Unity March on the same day and time.David B. Cohen, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs, says that Washington, D.C. is watching the ongoing debate over immigration federalization in the Commonwealth to understand the different opinions being expressed.Besides Sablan, Doromal, and Awit, also present at the news briefing were Dekada Movement counsel Stephen Woodruff, MP Magazine publisher Ed Propst, Dekada president Bonifacio Sagana, Human Dignity Movement president Jerry Custodio, Rabby F. Syed of the Bangladeshi community, activist Malou Berueco, and other leaders of various organizations.“The Unity March will take place, rain or shine,” said Sablan.'Hundreds, even thousands'The assembly will start at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach and will march all the way to the American Memorial Park.Sablan advised motorists to exercise caution when driving along Beach Road between Kilili Beach and American Memorial Park from 4:30pm and 9pm.“There are expected to be hundreds or thousands of demonstrators, including children, walking along the street and pathway up to Quartermaster Road,” she said.Before 7pm, the Department of Public Safety will be closing the northbound lane of Beach Road just after Quartermaster Road and marchers will move up the street to the American Memorial Park.To keep the spirit of the demonstrators up, Sablan said local musicians Steve Sablan and Floyd Lim from the Big Beats Band have volunteered to perform throughout the march. Other musicians have also been invited to perform, she said.She advised participants to wear white shirts as a symbol of peace and to bring water, flashlights, and umbrellas.“Placards and banners have been prepared for the march. Participants are also invited to bring their own placards and banners indicating the message(s) they wish to convey, the organizations they are representing, etc.,” Sablan said.Organizers asked that all signs must promote the spirit of unity and peaceful expression.Transportation will be provided to and from the march for those who need it. Pick-ups will be at San Antonio basketball court and Garapan basketball court beginning at 4pm.The Bangladeshi community offered 10 taxicabs-available for free-for the event.Sablan said people who are unable to march the entire length from Kilili Beach to the American Memorial Park are encouraged to ride in the convoy or to simply go straight to the Park to meet with the marchers for the closing ceremony.Lots of interest“All members of the community, of all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, religions, and occupations, are called to join in the historic and peaceful Unity March,” Sablan said.Sablan said they are expecting a lot of people to join based on what she has been hearing throughout the community.“There's a lot of interest and a lot of support from different sectors, public and private sectors, different cultural organizations, businesses, so we think maybe over a thousand [will attend],” she said.No matter how many people show up, Sablan said, the most important point is that “this is a very historic occasion.”“This is the very first time that people from throughout the community have decided to come together calling for fair and just immigration and labor reform that will benefit all workers in the CNMI,” she said.Doromal invited all the people in the CNMI to join the march-whether businesses, non-profit organizations for guest workers, different religions and cultures.“It's all about unity and nothing will happen on the island if it's not united. I think that the nonresident workers and residents of the islands, their lives and their work are intertwined and that they can't be separated. So I hope everyone will come together for this march,” Doromal said.Awit said UFO would not be engaged in any political issues, but that he really admires Sablan and Doromal for their efforts in organizing the march.“And I believe that the purpose of this event in general is for the whole community in this island. So I will support it not only as the leader of an umbrella organization in this island but as an individual also,” Awit said.Sagana and Custodio said they are very happy that many other organizations and locals have come forward and expressed their support.Sablan will be the opening speaker. The speakers at the closing of the event will be federal ombudsman Jim Benedetto, Doromal, attorney Mark Hanson, Ed Propst, Lupe Manglona, among many others.Close attentionCohen said the Bush administration supports the rights of people in the Commonwealth to express their views.“Many of us in Washington are paying attention to the very important discussion that is going on in the CNMI right now,” he said. “We want to understand the different opinions that are being expressed about federalization and other issues. That will help us in our effort to be fair to everyone, which will be quite a challenge because of the diversity of opinion that exists from the Commonwealth.”Cohen expressed disbelief that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens in the Commonwealth oppose federal takeover of local immigration.“I have spent a great deal of time in the Commonwealth talking to countless people, and I know for a fact that this is not true. Many U.S. citizens strongly oppose federalization, but there are also many who strongly support it and many who have mixed feelings,” he said.He added that the administration supports federalization for many reasons. One of those reasons is that the current system failed to provide jobs for the Chamorro and Carolinian workers.“We have urged Congress to take the interests of the indigenous population into account. We have also urged Congress to be mindful of the contributions of the guest workers who have been so instrumental in building up the Commonwealth,” he said.“We hope that people will realize that they are all in the same boat, and that people with different backgrounds and different views will work together to find solutions that are fair to everyone,” he added. (With Agnes Donato)
Rain or shine, everything is set for today's historic Unity March and organizers expect a big turnout for the event, heralded as a show of unity against the new labor reform law, support for federalization of the CNMI's immigration system, and a call for improved status for long-term alien workers.Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal flew from Florida to join representative-elect Tina Sablan and other organizers and supporters during a news briefing yesterday at a pavilion along Beach Road, Garapan.The United Filipino Organization, an umbrella organization of 28 different Filipino organizations, finally broke its silence on the issues with the appearance of its president, Ramon Awit, at the conference.Organizers said Tinian and Rota will also conduct their own Unity March on the same day and time.David B. Cohen, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs, says that Washington, D.C. is watching the ongoing debate over immigration federalization in the Commonwealth to understand the different opinions being expressed.Besides Sablan, Doromal, and Awit, also present at the news briefing were Dekada Movement counsel Stephen Woodruff, MP Magazine publisher Ed Propst, Dekada president Bonifacio Sagana, Human Dignity Movement president Jerry Custodio, Rabby F. Syed of the Bangladeshi community, activist Malou Berueco, and other leaders of various organizations.“The Unity March will take place, rain or shine,” said Sablan.'Hundreds, even thousands'The assembly will start at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach and will march all the way to the American Memorial Park.Sablan advised motorists to exercise caution when driving along Beach Road between Kilili Beach and American Memorial Park from 4:30pm and 9pm.“There are expected to be hundreds or thousands of demonstrators, including children, walking along the street and pathway up to Quartermaster Road,” she said.Before 7pm, the Department of Public Safety will be closing the northbound lane of Beach Road just after Quartermaster Road and marchers will move up the street to the American Memorial Park.To keep the spirit of the demonstrators up, Sablan said local musicians Steve Sablan and Floyd Lim from the Big Beats Band have volunteered to perform throughout the march. Other musicians have also been invited to perform, she said.She advised participants to wear white shirts as a symbol of peace and to bring water, flashlights, and umbrellas.“Placards and banners have been prepared for the march. Participants are also invited to bring their own placards and banners indicating the message(s) they wish to convey, the organizations they are representing, etc.,” Sablan said.Organizers asked that all signs must promote the spirit of unity and peaceful expression.Transportation will be provided to and from the march for those who need it. Pick-ups will be at San Antonio basketball court and Garapan basketball court beginning at 4pm.The Bangladeshi community offered 10 taxicabs-available for free-for the event.Sablan said people who are unable to march the entire length from Kilili Beach to the American Memorial Park are encouraged to ride in the convoy or to simply go straight to the Park to meet with the marchers for the closing ceremony.Lots of interest“All members of the community, of all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, religions, and occupations, are called to join in the historic and peaceful Unity March,” Sablan said.Sablan said they are expecting a lot of people to join based on what she has been hearing throughout the community.“There's a lot of interest and a lot of support from different sectors, public and private sectors, different cultural organizations, businesses, so we think maybe over a thousand [will attend],” she said.No matter how many people show up, Sablan said, the most important point is that “this is a very historic occasion.”“This is the very first time that people from throughout the community have decided to come together calling for fair and just immigration and labor reform that will benefit all workers in the CNMI,” she said.Doromal invited all the people in the CNMI to join the march-whether businesses, non-profit organizations for guest workers, different religions and cultures.“It's all about unity and nothing will happen on the island if it's not united. I think that the nonresident workers and residents of the islands, their lives and their work are intertwined and that they can't be separated. So I hope everyone will come together for this march,” Doromal said.Awit said UFO would not be engaged in any political issues, but that he really admires Sablan and Doromal for their efforts in organizing the march.“And I believe that the purpose of this event in general is for the whole community in this island. So I will support it not only as the leader of an umbrella organization in this island but as an individual also,” Awit said.Sagana and Custodio said they are very happy that many other organizations and locals have come forward and expressed their support.Sablan will be the opening speaker. The speakers at the closing of the event will be federal ombudsman Jim Benedetto, Doromal, attorney Mark Hanson, Ed Propst, Lupe Manglona, among many others.Close attentionCohen said the Bush administration supports the rights of people in the Commonwealth to express their views.“Many of us in Washington are paying attention to the very important discussion that is going on in the CNMI right now,” he said. “We want to understand the different opinions that are being expressed about federalization and other issues. That will help us in our effort to be fair to everyone, which will be quite a challenge because of the diversity of opinion that exists from the Commonwealth.”Cohen expressed disbelief that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens in the Commonwealth oppose federal takeover of local immigration.“I have spent a great deal of time in the Commonwealth talking to countless people, and I know for a fact that this is not true. Many U.S. citizens strongly oppose federalization, but there are also many who strongly support it and many who have mixed feelings,” he said.He added that the administration supports federalization for many reasons. One of those reasons is that the current system failed to provide jobs for the Chamorro and Carolinian workers.“We have urged Congress to take the interests of the indigenous population into account. We have also urged Congress to be mindful of the contributions of the guest workers who have been so instrumental in building up the Commonwealth,” he said.“We hope that people will realize that they are all in the same boat, and that people with different backgrounds and different views will work together to find solutions that are fair to everyone,” he added. (With Agnes Donato)
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