Change is already here

Several articles have been written about the various concerns about Article 12. It can’t be denied that Article 12 is one of the components affecting our lives and the economy.

However, for this article, I am going to mention only the social parts relating to Article 12. Consider the following taken from the Section by Section Analysis of the Covenant and Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands. It is highly recommended that these two documents be read so that we are all properly informed.

1. If a 100 percent Northern Marianas-descent couple adopts a non-NMD under 18 years of age, that child will become 100 percent NMD. This non-NMD child with no Chamorro or Carolinian blood is all of a sudden full NMD. Is this acceptable?

2. In a mixed marriage where an NMD and a non-NMD bear children, the children will be only 50 percent NMD at best. Yet, they have at least 50 percent Chamorro or Carolinian blood. Is this fair? Is this equality? Compare to No. 1 above.

3. In a marriage between an NMD and a non-NMD, property (purchased or inherited) can be passed on to the non-NMD spouse if the NMD spouse passes away. In other words, the non-NMD spouse will gain full ownership of the property upon the passing away of the NMD spouse. However, if there is a child or children, the non-NMD spouse is not entitled to any of the property. Isn’t this contrary to what marriage is all about? Why is the non-NMD spouse not entitled to the property that both worked so hard to obtain simply because there are children? Is this fair? Is this what we want in a marriage involving non-NMDs? What are we saying?

4. A person under the age of 18 born of parents who are 100 percent NMD but adopted by a couple who are of mixed marriage in which one of the parents is a non-NMD becomes only 50 percent NMD. Why? What happened to his or her Chamorro or Carolinian blood?

5. There are non-Chamorros and non-Carolinians who because they were here in the CNMI at a certain period of time and met the definition of an NMD are therefore considered NMD. However, there are Chamorros from Saipan that, because they left Saipan and were not around at the time specified under the definition of an NMD, are not NMD—a foreigner in their own place. Is this fair? Is this even right?

All of the above can be resolved by abolishing Article 12. We again mention that abolishing Article 12 will not force anyone to sell his or her land. Abolishing Article 12 means the landowner can sell, lease, or pass the land to family without restriction to NMD’s or non NMD’s alike regardless of the percentage of blood. Abolishing Article 12 gives private property landowners full control of their private property.

Article 12 was put in the Constitution to protect us while we became educated and learned to work with the world economy and community. I firmly believe that after 25 years, we all should have the proper education and training to join the world community and most importantly to be able to manage our private belongings such as our private land.

Our community now consists of many different races. Look at our youth’s last names. Many of them are not Chamorro or Carolinian. Many are a product of mixed marriages. We have already decided whether we agree or not to change. The best we can do is to embrace change as for the most part it is good and refreshing.