Live From Saipan

The CNMI administration believes that, right now, the foremost matter affecting the islands’ relationship with the U.S. is the Commonwealth’s dire need for federal funding — tens of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Here in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the contrast between the state of public education, public health, infrastructure, and living standards before and after the local economic boom of the late 1980s and early 1990s is astounding. The two are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The local economy has been down since the imposition of Covid restrictions five years ago so there are talks, once again, of “diversificatio

Surely Samoa, China, the U.S. itself and other nations will make decisions based on their own national interests — not those of other countr

Live from Saipan By Zaldy Dandan Saipan  — In an op-ed published by Marianas Variety two months ago, a Chamorro language expert pointed...

Live From Saipan By Zaldy Dandan Saipan  — This month, the 24th Legislature of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will...

Ordinarily, in a lousy economy, the party in power is usually punished by the electorate in a midterm election. In the CNMI’s case, however,

“If it’s any comfort, we should remind ourselves of the purpose of voting. We don’t vote to elect great persons to office. They’re not...

Saipan  — A U.S. political writer complains that the Harris-Walz economic plan is unsound. Others say the same thing about the...

Saipan -- The residents of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are — and should be — concerned about the possibility of war involving...

Saipan — I was thinking. Maybe I should compare the CNMI’s dismal economic situation to a scene from an old (and not-so-politically...

What CNMI politicians can learn from wise students Saipan — Besides the holidays, graduation season is my favorite time of the year....

“His daily toil is getting jobs for relatives and retainers. Sometimes he puts a dummy on the payroll and collects the dummy’s salary...

Saipan — The people, according to a Northern Mariana Islands official, need it. “It” was a press release that the official wanted...

Saipan —  In politics, the opposite of cynicism is delusion. “Idealism” in politics requires high intelligence — or willful...

Saipan — According to a local wag, GUAM stands for “Give Us American Money” while CNMI is short for “Currently Not Making Improvements.”...

Saipan — A few months ago, advocates, including representatives from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the other...

Saipan —  It’s been a year since the new administration and legislature were sworn in, and to the surprise of no one (who is not a...

Saipan — Perhaps one of the main reasons why voter turnout remains high in many democracies is that not everyone has the time to compare...

Saipan — A lawmaker here has complained about “boxes and boxes of Personal Protective Equipment worth millions of dollars [that] have...

Saipan — Like Babe Ruth calling his shot in game 3 of the 1932 World Series, the U.S. Congress passed a law in 2018 extending the...

Saipan — Since it was sworn in early this year, the new CNMI administration has been complaining about its predecessor’s “highly...

Saipan — In 2010, after just eight months in office, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned because — wait for it — he broke a...

Saipan — The Fourth of July is celebrated in the Northern Mariana Islands as Liberation Day, marking “the permanent closure on July 4,...

Saipan — Perhaps the most terrifying phrase in the English language is “good intentions.” Politics and governance are all about “good...

Saipan — Elected officials and concerned citizens say there is a need to “diversify” the tourism-based local economy. How? The proponents...

Saipan — Some say, “We are the government.” Usually, they also work for the government. But if you don’t, you may disagree, and may...

Saipan — In the movie “Groundhog Day,” the main character played by Bill Murray is a world-weary TV weatherman who finds himself reliving...

CNMI media and politics, 28 years ago Saipan — Twenty-eight years ago, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands had — compared to...

Saipan — This month, the youngest governor in CNMI history will be succeeded by the oldest. Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres was...

Saipan — As I write this, the CNMI is getting ready for the gubernatorial runoff which will be held on the day after Thanksgiving. If...

Saipan — In the CNMI and other U.S. jurisdictions, November, not April, as T.E. Eliot once declared, is the cruelest month. Eliot says...

Saipan — Recently, a radio talk show announced it was hosting a virtual forum for the two candidates for attorney general. This was one...

Saipan — Almost all of the businesses that participated in a survey conducted by the Tinian Chamber of Commerce want an end to federal...

Saipan — I worry whenever a politician and/or elected official says s/he is worried about the people. What usually comes next from that...

Wanting more of what we're tired of Saipan — Here in the CNMI, it seems that every time “concerned” citizens become “more concerned”...

Saipan — There are two kinds of people who like saying “I want it now!”: kids and voters. And like doting parents, politicians fall over...

Saipan — From a Wall Street Journal article published last month: “As yields on two-year Treasury notes this week moved above yields on...

Saipan — It’s seven months until the November election, but a lot of people are already afflicted with Political Derangement Syndrome....

Saipan — In the early 1990s, the fax machine and alphanumeric pagers were considered two of the most amazing inventions of all time. You...

Saipan — Election Day is Nov. 8, 2022. There are three candidates for CNMI governor as I write this: Republican Gov. Ralph DLG Torres,...

Saipan — This year, the Northern Mariana Islands will hold its 12th gubernatorial election, and as I write this, there are three...

Saipan — In his awesome book, "The End is Near and It’s Going to be Awesome," Kevin D. Williamson reminds us that most governments “do...

Saipan — Lawrence W. Reed, president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education, says national and state parks all over the U.S....

Saipan — Recently, a local public official — one of the better ones — gave the worst possible piece of advice to a college student. He...

Saipan — Thirty years ago, the banner story of Marianas Variety, the CNMI’s oldest newspaper, was “Top Officials Named as Shabu Users.”...

Saipan — New Zealand’s left-leaning prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, who is beloved by the mostly left-leaning international media, says...

Saipan — Never underestimate humanity’s ability to ruin a well-intentioned public policy. In 19th century Vietnam, the French colonial...

Saipan — In the summer of 2020, amid the Covid-19 global onslaught, the Wall Street Journal reported the rollout of an artificial...

When literary works are judged according to political viewpoint Saipan — Perhaps one of the best things that could possibly happen to...