Previous Story
Workers group wants to meet delegate bets
|
Posted on Jul 23 2008
A group of foreign workers is organizing an election forum to learn where the candidates for congressional delegate stand on issues concerning guest workers in the Commonwealth.
The Coalition of United Workers has scheduled the forum tentatively for Aug. 16, 2008, 5:30pm, at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.
Irene Tantiado, president of the coalition, said the purpose of the forum is to educate guest workers about the candidates’ positions on issues relating to foreign labor and immigration.
At the forum, the candidates will be given an opportunity to outline their “platform” for the guest workers. They are expected to answer questions from the guest workers afterwards.
Tantiado said the coalition is looking to endorse a candidate “who may not necessarily be in support of improved immigration status for the guest workers, but who is at least sympathetic to our concerns.”
“We may not be able to vote, but there are things we can do to impact the campaign. We could volunteer our time and services to help our candidate,” she said.
At least two of the candidates have expressed willingness to attend the forum.
Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan said he will come to the forum if invited. “The guest workers are a part of our community. I will definitely talk to them,” said Sablan.
Local television talk show host John Oliver Gonzales also said he is open to meeting with the foreign workers, but expressed concern about a possible schedule conflict. He is leaving on Aug. 16 for Las Vegas, where CNMI residents living in the U.S. mainland will convene for the annual Labor Day softball tournament. Gonzales sees the event as an opportunity to woo the off-island voters.
Yet, Gonzales said he is willing to attend the forum. “I’m challenging each one of my opponents to as many forums and debates as possible. The people deserve to know where we stand on issues,” he said.
The other candidates vying to be the Northern Marianas’ first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives are Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, retired Judge Juan T. Lizama, former Sen. David Cing, and Sen. Luis Crisostimo.
