Fitial seeks support of Pacific lawmakers

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial used a meeting of Pacific Island lawmakers yesterday to solicit support for his campaign for greater submerged land control.

Speaking before over 30 members of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, Fitial noted that many of the CNMI’s political and economic concerns were related to some of the concerns faced by other U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific.

He cited the submerged lands issue—specifically, his administration’s efforts to secure federal concessions to develop the CNMI’s underwater resources.

“We seek parity with U.S. coastal states. U.S. coastal states are at least afforded a portion of economic benefits within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Some of the island territories included in APIL could also benefit from the parity sought by the CNMI government,” Fitial said.

According to a legal opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office, all coastal states including Alaska and Hawaii have full rights to manage, lease and develop their territorial waters and marine resources extending up to three miles offshore. They also get 27 percent of all federal rents, royalties and revenues paid annually by developers to the coastal state.

Meanwhile, U.S. territories such as Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands only get qualified rights and interest in submerged land up to three miles, and full right to coral, sand and gravel within that three-mile area.

The federal government has offered the same rights to the Northern Marianas, which currently has no control over its submerged lands.

However, Attorney General Matthew T. Gregory said Friday that the administration would not accept this “flawed” deal because it did not have any economic benefits to the Commonwealth.

Gregory also said that the CNMI could open 902 Covenant negotiations with the federal government to push for a deal closer to that of the coastal states. He recalled that the CNMI had done this to secure an amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which gave the CNMI full right to all fees, royalties, and enforcement penalties for pelagic fish caught within the islands’ 200-mile EEZ.

“All of our sister territories directly benefited from the CNMI insisting on its rights—since they were all listed in the same amendment,” Gregory said.

Having common concerns and goals, Pacific Island territories should foster greater unity and solidarity in pursuing political and economic goals, Governor Fitial said.

“Through this organization, we have the potential to accomplish much through unity and collective efforts. Rather than addressing issues alone, as individual island entities, we stand to benefit greatly by supporting each other’s worthy goals,” he told the APIL delegates.