MGM Presents The Joneses in Saipan: The Bad Side

THE BAD SIDE
This blog sight has probably given the impression Saipan is an island of spectacular natural beauty and wonderful people. It is both. The natural jungle and seascapes are indeed spectacular and the cloud formations and sunsets are unparelled. The people are very humble yet courteous and friendly and loving. What the government and the economy has done to Saipan is equally spectular and almost criminal. This blog will provide some sights that show the dismal economic conditions and decay that is also part of the island. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Saipan was a vibrant and exciting place to live. Many US companies like Nike, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Levi Straus and others set up garment factories in Saipan where they could hire cheap labor and also put "made in the USA" on the labels as Saipan was a US protectorate in the Pacific. Jobs were abundent and paid at least the minimum wage for Saipan which was near $3.00 an hour. Saipan was also a major tourist destination for the Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. Many wonderful hotels were built along with golf courses and an exciting new La Fiesta Mall. Then a couple of things happened. Government ignored criminal activity against tourists and tried to extort Japan Airlines who brought many people to Saipan. JAL discontinued service. The garment companies found cheaper labor in Malaysia, Phillipines and China and closed the factories. The economy has gone into a tailspin and has never recovered. The La Fiesta Mall closed as did several of the grand hotels. Unemployment soared and new building stopped. Today the decayed remains of the glory years still dot the landscape as an ugly reminder of when things were good. The decayed factories remain and the small barack type housing are spread throughout the island. All is not well in paradise.