04-07-06

Hi friends, this is Harry Blalock; General Manager for radio stations KZMI & KCNM. It's that time once again to take a look at the issues of the week, and to offer some Food For Thought.

Saipan has many very positive things going for it, and I don't think we take the time to appreciate them and to see what we can do to enhance them. After all, it's so much easier to focus on the negative things going on, and complaining is always easier than sitting down and figuring out how to better promote our assets. I think sometimes we get so caught up in criticizing and complaining, that we lose the ability to be constructive and be a part of the solution. So let's take time out this week and take a look at some of the positive assets we have, and take a look at whether we are truly maximizing them or not.

The past two weeks we have seen a lot of new faces, and some faces that we see once a year or so. That's because of the Xterra race and the Tagaman triathlon. Not only do these races bring in quite a few competitors, and in some cases their families, but they also bring in quite a bit of international media that cover the races. Because of these facts alone, I'd say these races are definite assets to our islands. But then when you factor in all the media exposure and coverage of these races, the value of them to our islands starts to climb rapidly. Much has been said recently about the need to put Saipan on the map, and let the world know where we are. These races are helping to do that since they are talked about and featured in numerous magazines, newspapers and television programs. If we had to actually buy that kind of advertising, we could never afford it. If we want to be seen as a tropical vacation destination and a place for races like this, then we need to get serious about making sure we protect the funding for these races, and doing everything we can to attract more athletes to compete in them. Cutting the funding to these races is something that should never be considered due to the benefits they bring us. Some of the things we should be asking ourselves and considering are, what can we do attract more athletes to these races? Should we offer tours and promotional packages to the media who come here to cover the races? Do we do enough to clean things up before the races, making sure we present the kind of image that is attractive and positive? Have we asked the athletes if there is anything else we could do to make this a more attractive race destination?

We also have some world-class dive sites that attract thousands of divers every year; this is a natural resource that is priceless to us. We are lucky that we have great dives that you can get to just by walking out from the beach. You don't have to take an expensive and long boat ride for miles to get you to spectacular spots; this is a big advantage for us over places like Palau. So how have we taken care of this precious natural resource? Have we put restrooms at the dive sites for the convenience of our tourists? Have we done everything we can to make sure they are safe and that our tourists are protected? We started the process at the Grotto recently, by putting in restrooms and picnic areas, and a huge overlook deck. But what about the safety of our divers, did we even think about that, or was this just another case of politicians doing a project to make it look like they are actually accomplishing something? Did they even bother to ask the dive shops and guides what was really needed there? The improvements that have been made at the Grotto are definitely tourist friendly, as well as offering another picnic spot for locals, but this after all a dive spot, not a picnic area. If you wanted to put money into improving the Grotto, the first thing to do would be to put a collapsible bridge in crossing over to the main rock. The reason is that there are many tourists, both divers and picture takers alike, who wind up getting swept into the "washing machine" by large swells and waves rolling between the rocks. A trip through the washing machine is one that will leave you bloody and traumatized, and that's if you're lucky, you'll be dead if you're unlucky. Putting in a suspension bridge that is flexible would not be expensive or difficult. It could be built affordably so as to be replaced every couple years as the chains rust, or the ropes fray. If it were not a fixed bridge, like the old one that was there, you would not have to worry about it being damaged by earthquakes or typhoons.

So why have people had to continue risking life and limb to cross over to the main rock in the Grotto for years? Is it because a bridge isn't as glamorous as picnic areas or a huge concrete overlook, and politicians don't think it would get them as many votes? Is it because our politicians are sadly out of touch with what is really needed at these areas, and don't bother asking people who can accurately advise them? Is it because we're not really as concerned with taking care of our natural assets as we are of turning a stretch of Garapan into wall-to-wall concrete?

We have done some things here well, but we have also totally missed the boat on some others. The good news is that it's not too late to wake up and start taking care of what we've already got. The bad news is that the longer we wait, the more tourists will leave here with a less than spectacular impression of our island, meaning they will not likely return, and will probably not give a glowing recommendation to friends who ask about their vacation.

Are we doing all we can to make sure that our beaches are clean and attractive? Did you know that clean beaches are the #1 thing that Russian tourists are looking for in a vacation spot? Do you think they leave here impressed or wondering why we can't be bothered picking up our beaches and cleaning them for our tourists? How important are our tourist's opinions and impressions to us? Are they important enough for us to spend the money to make sure they are protected and impressed? I'm thinking that these things wouldn't be that expensive to accomplish, but they are obviously not our priority. I had to hand it to former Congressman Clyde Norita, as he took some of these things very seriously and personally. He used his own operational budget to make sure that there were garbage cans placed at the Grotto and various other spots, and then also had his staff go around emptying them and hauling the trash to the landfill. He didn't point fingers and say it was somebody else's responsibility, or that it wasn't his problem, he realized that it was all of our problem, and that he could do something about it, and he did. It's that kind of attitude that will turn things around, it's called taking personal responsibility, even when it's not technically your responsibility. Clyde had the ability to think outside the box, and to cut to the heart of the matter. I was very impressed with his attitude and determination when he was a Congressman, we need more politicians like him, who aren't all hung up on their position, but are really trying to make a difference and serve the people.

We are also about to have a state of the art medical facility, one of the nicest in the region in fact. That is a plus for us, and something that we could use to attract top notch physicians who would be serving patients from all over the western Pacific area. But turning it into a regional health care center would mean that we have to do some planning, and determine what we want to specialize in. As it stands right now, we are going to have one of the nicest medical facilities in the region, but it will sit there mostly empty because we don't have the doctors to staff it, or the money to operate it. It doesn't have to be that way though, we've gone to the time and trouble to build it, shouldn't we follow through now and do the proper planning to make sure that it is fully utilized and pulls it's own weight?

We are also about to have a state of the art prison facility, but again, we don't have the money to properly staff or operate it. But since we've gone to the time and trouble to construct it, shouldn't we be looking at what we can do to make it as profitable and efficient as possible? Have we contacted other island governments who may not have room in their jails or prisons and offered to take in their prisoners for a price? Could we help to offset the cost of our jail by doing that? Since our new prison would not even be close to full at our current levels, this is something that only makes sense to pursue. But again, it is something that requires some thinking outside the box and the ability for some long range planning.

Everything should not be gloom and doom here, we have some very big advantages, but we need to recognize them and then capitalize on them. As long as we continue to ignore the opportunities right in front us, chances are not good that people are going to be lining up at our doors with offers of new opportunities. A principle that typically holds true in business is that you make your own opportunities; they are rarely dropped in your lap. That usually requires thinking, planning and some old-fashioned hard work. Part of making your own opportunities means realizing what you've got and then maximizing your assets. We have some great opportunities here, but making the most of them will require the cooperation of the public and private sectors, and each of us chipping in and doing what we can, even if it's not technically our job.

I'm Harry Blalock, thanking you once again for giving me a generous slice of your valuable time, and allowing me to share my Food For Thought.