Guam governor, senators: Delay federalization in CNMI

Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho and the Guam Legislature threw their weight behind the CNMI government’s request to delay the implementation of the federalization transition program on June 1 until additional security measures are in place, and to add China to the visa waiver program so that the Marianas could avoid “severe economic declines.”

March 17, Tuesday, is the deadline for public comments on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s interim final rule establishing U.S. ports of entry in the CNMI and the establishment of a Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

The Guam governor is the 40th or the last entity to comment on the regulations as of Friday.

Unlike the Guam senators who want a re-assessment of the exclusion of both Russia and China from the visa waiver program, the Guam governor didn’t call for the inclusion of Russia in the program.

“The delay in implementation will provide an important window to accomplish security goals while preventing further declines in the CNMI’s economy,” Camacho told DHS, which published the rule on Jan. 13 pursuant to Public Law 110-229 or the Consolidated Natural Resources Act.

The delay, according to the Guam governor, will help the Marianas ensure that appropriate measures are in place not just to meet DHS requirements but also to protect the nation and the islands.

By June 1, CNMI immigration will be under federal control unless the start of the transition period is delayed, as called for by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” C. Sablan, the CNMI Legislature, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and many other individuals and groups.

Also by June 1, Chinese and Russian tourists will be required to secure a U.S. visa for entry into the CNMI and Guam.

Given Guam’s important role in the nation’s defense, security concerns associated with the implementation of the visa waiver program are paramount, according to Camacho.

Guam is home to a U.S. military base, and thousands of additional troops will be arriving for the military buildup.

“However, many of these eligibility requirements in the interim final rule show no clear link to national security issues,” Camacho said, citing the fact that nationals of listed countries are expressly prohibited from traveling to a U.S. state.

Camacho said the economic impact of the rule’s failure to include China at this time is more certain. He said Chinese and Russian tourists contribute approximately 20 percent to the CNMI’s tourism revenues.

“This threshold certainly meets the criteria for significant economic benefit, as mentioned in the rule itself, and provides strong rationale or including China and Russia in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program, at the earliest possible date,” he said.

The Guam governor said China and Russia should be prohibited from participating in the visa waiver program only if they are threats to the United States, and not when they’re significantly benefiting the CNMI economy.

Despite asking for the delay, Camacho said the new provision providing for longer stays or up to 45 days for visitors from approved countries would benefit the Guam economy.

The eventual inclusion of China in the program remains uncertain, and Camacho said the rule does not describe a formal mechanism to either add countries to the program or reinstate countries that have previously been suspended.

“With no set funding in place to accomplish new security measures at CNMI ports, implementation of the rule may prevent consideration of China and Russia in the visa waiver program for an uncertain amount of time,” he added.

Guam does not have a substantial number of visitors from mainland China at this time, but the island is committed to attracting visitors from this large market, and China’s inclusion in the visa waiver program is a critical step in this process, Camacho said.

Anthony Gain, general manager of Hyatt Regency Guam, also supports the delay of the start of the transition period.

He said he delay would allow more time for the proper implementation of the significant program and for all individuals and agencies concerned to prepare for the program and install additional security measures needed.

“It is also hoped that this delay would give adequate time for the addition of visitors from…China and Russia to be included under the visa waiver program,” he said.

The Guam Legislature’s request for a 180-day delay in the start of the federalization transition in the CNMI and reassessment of the visa waiver program is part of a 15-page resolution that presents an agenda of priority concerns for Guam on federal-territorial issues for proposed action to President Obama and to the U.S. Congress.

Resolution 15 also listed 17 priority concerns for Guam, including a need for a political status plebiscite, return of ancestral lands, implementation of war reparations, infrastructure funding, removal of funding caps on Medicaid, and reimbursement of the earned income tax credits paid or owed to Guam tax filers.

The interim final rule exempts only citizens of 12 countries from the U.S. visa requirement: Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

Earlier, four of the major business and tourism groups on Guam—the Guam Visitors Bureau, the Guam Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Guam, and the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association—separately expressed support to the CNMI’s call to delay federalization “until additional security measures are put in place.”