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Demapan: CNMI is being lowballed with $23M offer
The $23 million for live-fire ranges in the CNMI that was discussed in early negotiations between past administrations and the U.S. military is too low a figure compared to the reported $6 billion that Guam is getting in infrastructure projects for a planned military buildup in coming years, according to Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan).
These numbers were discussed during a Natural Resources Committee meeting Tuesday, where lawmakers mulled a Senate bill to prohibit the Department of Public Lands from leasing land for U.S. military purposes.
The genesis of that bill comes out of protest of the U.S. military’s proposed high-impact live fire ranges on Pagan and Tinian. S.B. 19-42 is authored by Sen. Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan), former secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources discussed Tuesday whether the bill would foreclose the opportunity to negotiate with the military.
For one, if the CNMI received the nearly $6 billion or $7 billion the government of Guam has reportedly gotten for the military base in Guam, then that “would fix all our problems,” said Rep. Anthony Benavente (Ind-Saipan).
Demapan agreed with the benefits but noted that the military in early negotiations did not propose an acceptable plan.
Demapan was press secretary of Gov. Eloy S. Inos and then-governor Benigno R. Fitial.
According to Demapan, the “highest” offer the CNMI government got from the U.S. military was $23 million.
Demapan said if the military had proposed a more formidable plan for Pagan it may have been accepted.
He noted that Guam would get billions “when the damage is going to be done here.”
“Heaven’s falling in Guam but not here,” he added.
