The Mariana Islands....DeLay's Unregulated Pacific "Paradise"

[realFedUp]

I listened to Lou Dubose on Al Franken's show
this morning talk about this huge disgrace on
America in the Marianas thanks to
corrupt Republican Congressmen. Thought we
could revisit this matter in this primer:

http://www.alternet.org/story/13140/

DeLay's Unregulated Pacific "Paradise"
By Stephen Pizzo, AlterNet. Posted May 15, 2002.

No rules, no regulators, no inspectors, no health and safety laws. What more could a sweatshop operator ask for? Welcome to the Mariana Islands, a U.S. protectorate and Tom DeLay's very own pet project.

As Tom DeLay preached his pro-business/anti-regulation theology in the US, his model of perfection was far from the mainland. The U.S. protectorate of the Northern Mariana Islands -- 14 islands in the North Pacific -- have become something of a free-enterprise petting zoo for DeLay and those he wishes to convert to his way of thinking.

snip

The opportunity was quickly recognized by Asian sweatshop operators like Hong Kong's Tan Holdings, run by garment mogul Willie Tan. Deep in the lush jungles, far from the island's white beaches and luxury hotels, garment factories quickly set up shop. They staffed their factories with workers from China and the Philippines with promises of work in the US. But, workers soon discovered that the work contracts they signed consigned them to near-indentured servitude deep in the Marianas steamy jungles. Wages were low, hours were long. The companies docked workers' pay for housing, food, medical treatments and other charges. The low wages and high deductions made it nearly impossible for workers to save enough money to return home.

None of this was a secret back home in the U.S. In 1998, ABC, CNN, the BBC and the New York Times each confirmed reports of forced labor, sex slaves and domestic forced servitude among the Marianas' so-called "guest workers."

continued

[JeffR]

1. "Free-enterprise petting zoo"

Smile of the week.
Thanks for posting this.

[killbotfactory]

2. Tom Delay is a piece of shit

And so is everyone who approved of this.

but we already knew that.

[Maccagirl]

3. I posted about this on another thread

even though I couldn't remember the gentleman's name. The whole story makes me physically ill. The women were forced to have abortions as well. DeLay himself blocked legislation after it had passed unamimously in the Senate. How could that scum get away with it???

[realFedUp]

4. because others in Congress let him get away with it

and even profited by it.

Bush changed the tone in DC and America...
lies, greed and crime.

[400Years]

5. thanks for posting I emailed this story out

[realFedUp]

6. great....the more people who know, the better.

a horrible, shameful disgrace by American
representatives.

[xxqqqzme]

7. This story absolutely disgusts me.

I lived in the Marianas for 4 years. These islands were pristine, lovely, peaceful tropical perfection. They were discovering their native power and taking control of their islands. I thought, then, at least here the US can't fuck anything up. It takes someone as depraved, warped and thoroughly corrupted as roachman to turn beauty N2 crap.