Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Editorials
Friday, March 24, 2000Philippine president’s
temper is frayingJOSEPH Estrada was a star in Filipino movies, playing mostly tough-guy roles, before he turned to politics. But the latest bit of drama in the Philippine president's life was more comical than tragic, although he didn't think it was funny -- probably because the joke was on him and it touched a nerve.The issue: Philippine President Joseph Estrada fired his chief of staff for telling a joke about his drinking.
The president's recently appointed chief of staff, Aprodicio Laquian, was asked at a forum whether whether being a teetotaler was a disadvantage in an administration in which the president reportedly makes many decisions during late-night drinking sessions.
He replied, "It's the best thing working for me, because at 4 o'clock in the morning I am the only person sober in the room."
When Estrada heard about the remark, he fired Laquian, although the latter claimed he was only joking. "I didn't find it funny," the president explained. "He wanted to get a few laughs, but he was taken seriously."
Estrada has a reputation as a heavy drinker, although he said he has shunned hard liquor since becoming president. He won election two years ago on the basis of his down-to-earth appeal to the ordinary citizen. Now his popularity is weakening under the impact of a series of scandals and a failure to achieve economic growth.
The late-night sessions the president has spent with his so-called "midnight cabinet" of friends have contributed to an image of cronyism and a loss of investor confidence in the country.
Recently Estrada was accused by the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission of exerting pressure on behalf of a businessman-friend who was being investigated for stock manipulation. The stock market plunged in response to that disclosure.
With his administration unraveling, it's no wonder the president failed to see the humor in a joke told at his expense. It may drive him to drink even more, but that won't help either.
Small boat harbors
THE Senate Economic Development Committee made the right decision in killing an administration bill to privatize the Ala Wai and Keehi Lagoon recreational boat harbors. The committee suggested that the state confer with Ala Wai residents and users about its proposals for the harbor before proceeding further with planning.
Two Republican legislators, Sen. Sam Slom and Rep. Galen Fox, were accused by Governor Cayetano of hypocrisy for opposing the bill while supporting privatization of other government functions. Cayetano claimed that they were trying to curry favor with wealthy boat owners.
But the two said their objection had to do with allowing commercial tour boats to operate at the Ala Wai. They argued that the proposal to turn the front slips at the Ala Wai over to tour boats now moored at Kewalo Basin would pose safety problems.
Allowing commercial tour boats in the Ala Wai harbor seems unwise. The harbor is crowded enough without them and they already have berths at Kewalo Basin and Honolulu Harbor.
However, if that part of the bill is scrapped, privatization of at least the Ala Wai harbor should proceed. A private operator could charge more appropriate fees for moorings in the state's most conveniently located small-boat harbor, and generate revenue to finance needed improvements -- not only at the Ala Wai but perhaps at other harbors as well.
There is also a need for more small-boat harbors, a need that will become more acute if the Ala Wai and Keehi Lagoon harbors are privatized and some boat owners forced out.
Waimea Bay solution
HIGHWAY engineering is not our speciality, but for what it's worth we think the state Transportation Department made the right choice from the available options for dealing with the rock slide problem on Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay. The department decided to realign the highway away from the cliff.
This means a retaining wall will have to be built and a road bed created makai of the present road. A fence will be built to protect motorists from falling rocks. The state says the project will take 11 weeks to complete and cost $4 million.
This solution avoids a need to disturb the rock wall, where Hawaiian burial caves have been found. The other alternatives were cutting back the cliff 20 feet, building an avalanche shed over the highway and building a trestle bridge.
The state has moved promptly to address the problems created by the March 6 rock slide and the need to close the highway. The temporary road was built quickly and is serving its purpose. If only government could move so fast on other matters.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited PartnershipRupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
