st -LocalTuesday, November 20, 2007

Sugar Dock cleanup net bags of trash, big tire
Last Sunday Marianas Dive, Dive Saipan, Beautify CNMI! and MINA joined forces to clean up the Sugar Dock area, underwater and on adjoining beaches. Over 45 people participated; some stayed on shore to clean up the beaches, including at least one rusted-out and overflowing trash barrel, and certified divers went underwater to pick up cans, rusty grates, a huge truck tire, and other trash.Participating dive shops included Dive Saipan, Mariana Sports Club, Mermaid Saipan, Saipan Dive Resort, Lighthouse Saipan, Aqua Soul, Ka’lak Diving School, Aqua Del Rey, and Super Fish Diving.Those who joined the Sunday morning event had the satisfaction of cleaning up an important tourist dive spot, and many participants also won great prizes. Event organizers distributed prize golf balls, and the finders took home great gifts donated by Aqua Jet, Mike Tripp Productions, Dive Saipan, Guam Tropical Dive Station, Hamilton’s, Hardt Eye Clinic, PHI Pharmacy, PTI, Porky’s Beach Bar, and Speedy Tertle.As one diver noted, "Besides the original goal of doing something positive by cleaning up this popular area, I think everyone had a good time, enjoying the camaraderie, and the excitement of the scavenger hunt as a bonus.”This is the third in a series of underwater cleanups undertaken by these groups. Watch for more details about the next cleanup-the public is invited. For more information, contact Mike Tripp, president, Marianas Dive, 670-288-DIVE (3483) or scubatrip@mac.com. Marianas Dive is a growing group of individuals with a passion for everything underwater and specifically what Saipan Tinian & Rota have to offer as dive destinations. The group welcomes community members to join and help the CNMI build a truly world-class dive destination while promoting our excellent diving locally and globally. Members meet the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6:3pm. To join the email list, visit www.marianasdive.com. (PR)

Letter to the editor: Fitial will not be re-elected

Friday November 23, 2007

IT is time for the PEOPLE of the CNMI to “TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT” — it’s that simple and it’s common sense when you have been bamboozled, as we say in my culture. I have made many predictions about our economy and our government and guess what, in case you haven’t been keeping track — they have all come true.
But first, I would like for the governor to know I choose the title to get his attention and because I care about him and the CNMI and people with common sense know had I just sent this to him personally it wouldn’t have had ANY affect, which is the whole purpose of this exercise. Most professionals will view this for what it is — constructive criticism. It is not my intent to be disrespectful and the governor still has a chance to be re-elected but he MUST CHANGE and that’s the point that must be made clear.
First of all, we elected the wrong governor at the wrong time — it is really that simple. We needed him when we HAD money and this is not about him personally because he is a VERY GOOD man but his politics and ideologies are outdated as they clearly reflect an attitude and mentality of the Trust Territory days and we are in a NEW ERA over 30 years later — times, ideologies and people have all CHANGED. The CNMI had a good start but we now need to build some momentum to create real “synergy” to keep us going and growing — a force that our politicians seem to be totally ignorant about when it comes to politics. Synergy is the “unseen force” that allows two or more to achieve something that they are incapable of doing individually and we need leadership with the capacity to create synergy with the federal government — not enemies. Our government is like a car going up hill and running out of gas to get us over the top as we say in my culture — we will get federal help or be stranded figuratively.
What we need now more than anything is real synergy coming from the people to push our government over the hump and to recapture control of our government that is clearly taking us nowhere FAST. Federalization was the “wake up call” and its time for the people to answer the call of the federal government and not the local government that has clearly messed up. The people never established a collective stance on federalization and neither did our government and the Legislature has pretty much left it up to the governor, which is obviously politics to place all the accountability on the governor. There has never been a legitimate attempt by our government to find out just what the people wanted and marching orders have NEVER been given directly to the government for laws & reforms directly from the PEOPLE in the history of the CNMI — well, that time is at HAND!
The PEOPLE must put an end to being “lied” to by our executive first and foremost. The previous administration tried to sell us a “darn good” economy and now this administration sold us “better times & no surcharge” that have truly turned out to be BiTTer Times & Higher Rates and everyone knows this even those who don’t have common sense.
There won’t be another lie told by the next governor if the PEOPLE will support the efforts of concerned citizens like Vince Cabrera, Greg Cruz, Johannes, Jeff Torres and the many people that are passing the Mandate Petition and those who are signing the petition — yes, I’m just the “tip” of the spear for change and its about the PEOPLE and our government not me so stop trying to kill the messenger and get the message.
The recent attacks on Mr. Cohen and Mr. Benedetto sent a clear message to the federal government and the people that our governor IS NOT going to work collaboratively with the federal government. Mr. Cohen & Mr. Benedetto are standing between his administration and 450 MILLION DOLLARS for the CNMI. Yet our governor gives the appearance of a person slapping the face of the very people who are here to help.
This money can help the people and the people won’t easily forget that Governor Fitial is keeping it from helping us when we need it most by not cooperating with the feds. He is making it hard on himself and making the SAME mistakes that the Froilan Tenorio administration made and we all know what happened to him — so it is easy to predict he will not be re-elected based on this phenomenon alone. We hired him to “fix our economy” not to fight with federal officials and I’m sure the average citizen will agree. He is doing a good job as a “business man” in control of the money but he is doing a horrific job with the politics of the CNMI and his office.
The governor can still be re-elected but he is going to have to get with the program of the feds and the PEOPLE or he is going to be a big loser in 2009.
I pray this will encourage the governor to change and take us in a NEW DIRECTION.
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan

Guest workers, businesses plan ‘unity march’

mv- Friday November 23, 2007 by Emmanuel T. Erediano

SAYING that some employers have threatened to terminate them if they push ahead with their planned general strike, a coalition of guest workers is now planning instead a “unity march” with local businessmen and young professionals, including Rep.-elect Tina Sablan.
Coalition organizer Boni Sagana said a group of local residents have met with them to share their concerns about the newly enacted Public Law 15-108, the CNMI’s latest labor “reform” law.
Some businessmen say they will suffer when the law takes effect next year.
Sagana said their group and the local employers came up with the idea of holding a peaceful “unity march” to express opposition to the labor law.
He said guest workers and local residents want to “join hands” while marching from Kilili Beach all the way to American Memorial Park.
They still have no definite date but it is likely to be held next month, Sagana said.
He said they had wanted to organize a one-day stoppage of work but some employers have warned them about possible “consequences.”
Ronnie Doca, another coalition leader and president of the Filipino Contract Workers Association, said in a separate interview that many guest workers worry about losing their jobs if they join a general strike.
He said some employers have threatened to terminate guest workers if they join a general strike.
Doca said they have no choice but to consider this “concern.”
According to Doca, Taotao Tano CNMI Inc. is now communicating with them to discuss a joint effort against the re-imposition of high power rates.
Taotao Tano members, Doca said, have been showing up at guest workers’ gatherings lately.