By Edwin K. Propst for Kandit News & Views
Delegate Kim King-Hinds seems to have a problem for every solution.
She frequently speaks of unity and collaboration, yet consistently targets the Administration and the Legislature in her speeches. At yesterday’s Economic Summit, her remarks were not only divisive but also misleading. She accused the CNMI government of telling the people to simply “wait for things to get better.” That is a bold-faced lie. No one has said that, and she knows it.
She opened her remarks with a dramatic, “What are we doing?” But perhaps a more appropriate question would be: “What are YOU doing, Delegate?”
You’ve introduced bills but failed to get any of them passed. In fact, you’ve even undermined your own proposals. A prime example is your branding of the $414 million in repurposed FPUC and PUA funds as a “bailout” — language that all but ensured the proposal would be dead on arrival in Congress.
You are our Delegate in Washington, D.C. — our voice on Capitol Hill — and yet you chose to criticize the current Administration for failing to complete single audits dating back to 2020, audits that were the direct responsibility of former Governor Ralph Torres, who was present in the audience at the same summit. Instead of holding him accountable, you hugged him, praised him, and conveniently omitted his administration’s role in creating the backlog. This isn’t leadership. It’s gaslighting.
Contrast this with Congressman Kilili Sablan, who spent 16 years in D.C. building bipartisan relationships and delivering real results. He didn’t waste time with theatrics; he focused on outcomes. If you want to be effective, perhaps start by following his example.
And let’s talk about your obsession with China as our economic savior. It’s unrealistic. While you call for Chinese tourism and economic ties, the fact remains that President Trump and the current Republican-led U.S. Congress do not share your enthusiasm for increased ties with China. Until that changes, focus on what is actually attainable:
Expand and diversify tourism: Promote South Korea, Japan, and other markets that are open and viable.
Support subsidized inter-island transportation: Advocate for a federally supported ferry system, as Alaska and other U.S. jurisdictions benefit from.
Push for presumptive Medicaid coverage, as seen in American Samoa, so our people can access health care without needless bureaucratic delays.
These goals are within reach — if you’re willing to set aside ego and work collaboratively.
Let’s also not forget the economic collapse that occurred under Governor Ralph Torres — a time when you were the CPA Chairwoman. Where was your outrage then? Businesses like Marianas Resort and Rota Resort closed their doors. Did you speak out? Did you demand accountability when ARPA funds were misused, or when BOOST grants were given to fly-by-night businesses that shut down and sold off equipment for profit?
Where’s the call for a federal investigation into that? Where’s the demand to recover those funds?
The sad truth is this: no one is opposing Chinese tourism. Chinese tourists are welcome and can visit now. So why aren’t they coming? Why aren’t you asking Tan Holdings — which once chartered flights from China — to resume those efforts?
Rather than focusing on conspiracy or distraction, perhaps take a moment to acknowledge what this Administration has actually done. For the first time in decades, they balanced the budget — they lived within their means. Governor Torres never did that. He ended every fiscal year in a deficit, spending far more than the government took in. He left behind unpaid bills for new government vehicles and essential services. This Administration had to clean up that mess — paying off debts he never bothered to cover.
Instead of recognizing this fiscal responsibility, you choose to grandstand.
If you truly want to work together, start by doing just that — without the hyperbole, without the finger-pointing, and without rewriting history. Build bridges, not barriers. That’s how Congressman Kilili delivered for our islands. It’s time to put politics aside and focus on progress.
We need results, not rhetoric. Thank you.
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Edwin K. Propst is a resident of Dandan, Saipan
