It’s Okay to Speak Up, CNMI Leaders

 

 

Opinion by Tina Sablan for Kandit News & Views

Dear CNMI leaders,

I get that we have a new President and congress, and that many of you, especially those who have aligned with the new Republican leadership in Washington, want to play nice and “collaborate” and “work together.”

And yes, I know it’s only been eight mind-numbing days into the new administration, and maybe some of you want to “wait and see.”

But it’s perfectly fine to stand up right now and speak your truth and say out loud that “pausing” all federal grants, shutting down FEMA, slashing Medicaid and nutrition assistance, terminating climate resiliency, environmental protection, and clean energy programs, driving up the costs of goods with tariffs, and upending the lives of migrant workers and their families will be really, really bad for us in the CNMI, in all the territories, and the nation.

And that you will do everything in your power to fight for us and safeguard our future.

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Tina Sablan is a resident of Susupe, Saipan, and lives in both Saipan and Hawaii.