PO 10001, PMB 324
Saipan, MP 96950
August 16, 2012
Re: Urgent plea for assistance
Dear Insular Affairs,
I am an American Citizen recruited by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) 11 years ago to teach for the Public School System. I am a cancer patient, who recently retired at age 66 with a small pension from the NMI Retirement Fund (Fund). I, along with approximately 3,000 other retirees, are facing the imminent loss of our pensions. We need your help.
The Fund is a Constitutionally guaranteed fund. Yet, for the last 7 years, the NMI Government has refused to make required contributions to the Fund According to the NMI Senate, the required moneys were allocated properly, but somehow failed to make it to the Fund.
About three years ago, the NMI Superior Court granted the Fund a judgment against the NMI Government in the amount of approximately $325 million dollars. However, to date, the NMI Government has totally ignored this judgment.
A few months ago, the NMI Government filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of the Fund in Federal Court in Hawaii, Judge Farris presiding, only to have it dismissed as Bankruptcy was not a legal option. I believe the real option was Federal Receivership, and that the Bankruptcy filing was an attempt to avoid Federal Receivership.
Most recently, the FBI served a summons on our Attorney General for alleged violations of law and breach of the duties and responsibilities of his office. The FBI managed to serve him just as he, with the assistance of a police escort, was trying to leave the island to avoid service. On top of that, the last NMI Lt. Governor is serving 7 years in Federal Prison for abuse of Federal Funds.
There are many US citizens caught in this atrocity. We all see much more contributing to this problem than simply difficult economic times. We believe there is a sincere need of a Federal Investigation and hopefully some kind of Federal Intervention. Please hear our plea, and send someone here to find out what is really going on. I sincerely believe that what is going on in CNMI is not only un-American, it is likely criminal. The present Administration will not provide you with the true story.
I am not informed enough to know if a US Citizen has the right to request Federal help in saving a constitutionally guaranteed retirement fund of an American Territory. I only know that intervention is needed and that you are the last hope for me and the other 3000 pensioners. Therefore, I beseech you to do whatever you can to help us, and I thank you in advance for your time and attention to this matter. Should you have any questions, I can be reached at the above address or at mdawillfixit@yahoo.com
Respectfully submitted,
James McMahon
That mcmahon sure has a big mouth! They cut out his tongue but it did not shut him up. Not Yet.
By the way gentlemen, I copied that letter to the US State Department on Sunday. I embellished it a bit, as State Department requested more and more evidence. I offered a ream of evidence, all circumstantial, of course. I did not get pictures of the perpetrators running off with a black bag full of our Pension funds. I suspect they did the act with ski masks and in the dark of night. Like the recent Power Plant Contract, and the EO for the Fund. That money sure would help the Governor resolve the Hospital shortfall. So would charging a fair fee for Medical Services! So would professional Bill Collection! Everything is not free in America.
I did suggest that there is a difference between BANK-RUPTCY and BANK-ROBBERY. The differences are not really subtle. Well, not that subtle. Neither is the difference between “Better Times” and “Bitter Times” very subtle. Neither was I very subtle. I did try to be honest and use words like ‘alleged’. I sent OIA a ream of Saipan Tribune articles as that sort of imply that there could be some ‘Hooky-Boo’ occurring on this beautiful island.
I believe I concluded with something like ‘several thousand American Troops were, not so very long ago, seen floating on Blood Beach’. Doesn’t it make your eyes water to read the notice there. (It makes my eyes water). It is not like somebody sold us Saipan to make garments. It is more like Saipan sold itself to make garments. USA took possession of Saipan during an exercise to Save the World; if I understand history? I think if we dig in we will be able to retake Saipan. I sure pray that we can do this thing. No heavy artillery today. A few Chicago type attorneys, but they will change sides when the marines arrive.
Think about the price paid for this real estate and the audacity of Saipan Government recruiting US Citizens to help with their Educational needs, and Medical and Dental needs, and then to thank us by misallocating the very funds that were part of our remuneration for that service?? A tax free partial contribution to your Retirement Fund is not a gift or a tip. It is part of your employment contract, an earned increment.
USA invaded Iraq for less good reason than exists here in Saipan today. I doubt that they will invade on our behalf, but I suspect it will be the US Courts or a Federal Department that finally ends this masquerade. It is a masquerade! MASQUERADE!
Let us pray that we will not be abandoned on these beautiful beaches to be eaten by hungry little crabs.
Jimmy Mac
Not him again!
Yes boys and girls I am rabid about this movement. I like it more than I liked SDS in the sixties. Not as much as I loved Bobby Dylan’s poetry. That touched my soul. This Retirement Fund stuff is stabbing my heart. Breaking my heart. Making me crazy. Making me sick. Making me write. Gee, I had hoped to spend my retirement writing. Maybe a little fishing, but not fighting for my life!
Well we are fighting for our lives! WE are used to being self sufficient. We are used to respect. We earned self esteem. We deserve to be treated fairly. We will have to demand that we be treated fairly! Otherwise guess what may well happen?
Now I ask you retiree, what did you do today to help our cause? What will you do tomorrow to help this cause? What will you do if we fail in this cause? I will bet you know what you will do if we fail. Bend over and kiss your sweet ass goodbye!
That is what they taught us in school to do as an exercise in the event of a nuclear attack by the Russians. Should we do that for a third world ‘want to be dictator’?
That is a serious question that only you can answer. Give it some thought, please.
Do not bend over. Do not drop the soap. .If you do, before this movement is successful, guess what will happen to you. (Please do not ask me what will happen to you it is only implied.) Do not forget to say your prayers tonight, and pray for God to save your Retirement Fund. Pray for this island paradise to be saved.
I wrote another letter today to the Legislature in Saipan. I will copy it here for your consideration. Think about it, who ever you may be. It is a serious plea for help from the very people that should have prevented this atrocity in the first place. It is not a joke or a sarcastic little collection of words. It is almost a prayer. It is a prayer.
Open letter to all legislators.
Today is our hour of need. CNMI has never in History needed you as it needs you today.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I beg you to stand up for Democracy and the Rule of Law.
Stand up for your Island and impeach this Governor.
Forget your political parties and personal favors and remember the Lord.
You can help to save this Island Paradise from total collapse and loss of all human values.
Your choices in this hour of need will determine the future of this Island and your FAMILIES’ future.
Do not let politics overcome your duty to God and your Country.
God Bless you all, and guide you to salvation.
Jim McMahon
Retired PSS
What else is there to say? It is in your hands lord, be gentle with the retirees and the CNMI.
Jimmymac
Mr. McMahon:
I really admire your stand on the issue of the Retirement Fund. You have a true heart of a warrior embedded in the First Amendment in the US Constitution. You are not alone, Sir, I am with you because not only you showed courage, despite this great adversity facing the Retirement Fund. We could be shut-off by the higher power that is in-charge because we are just an ordinary citizen calling for justice. We are irrelevant but we have the heart to fight for our survival, it is true “the retirement benefits” is part of the contract you’re signed when PSS hired you. Not only you but including all other government employees that dedicate their many years of service for various capacities in the government employ.
Thru this means, we deserve to fight for our rights of the contract and it is not an acceptable excuse for the government to forget its constitutionally protected obligations to all vested employees. If we don’t do this, who will? I knew there are many retirees and active members sympathizes with your fight but unfortunately scared to come forward because of possible repercussions or perhaps dismissal from job or their relatives. There is so much at stake just to speak up and government jobs endanger them to loose.
I am begging other retirees to express what you feel is right and join us to work together in supporting the Roe/Doe lawsuit in federal court. Remaining silence will not get us to a fair fight; we are weak, irrelevant and no influence but by unifying our stand to enforce the judgment of what are due to the Retirement Fund will get us to receive the constitutionally protected benefits.
We have to fight for our rights pot pabot!
I pray that our plea for help will be heard and may this letter reach to a reader in the federal government that has a heart to defend justice. That justice is for all retirees and active employees of the DB plan that are vested to the promised benefits.
God bless our call for justice for the retirees and all DB plan participants!
-Noel M. Soria
Thanks Noel!
And by the way I am only 67 on. 8/22/2012.
Happy Birthday to me.
And by the way, again, the Higher Power is not in the CNMI Administration, but in the Heavens above. God Bless you too.
The Mormons believe that Lucifer is the brother of Jesus Christ. Well, that sort of implies we have a brother in the Administration? God Bless our brother.
jim