‘CNMI not getting economic benefits’

Three years after President Bush established the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument on Jan. 6, 2009, and four years since the release of a 2008 analysis saying that the monument will result in $333 million in economic benefits in the region, the CNMI has yet to see any of the promised economic boom nor formally convene its advisory council for the first time, said council member Benigno Sablan.

Sablan, one of the appointed members from the CNMI to the Marianas Monument Advisory Council, said Thursday that two federal appointees to the five-member council are expected to visit the CNMI on the week of Feb. 20 but that visit is not even for an inaugural advisory council meeting.

“It’s just a getting-to-know-each-other meeting,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune.

Only four of five council members have so far been appointed.

Of the three that’s supposed to be from the CNMI, only two have been appointed: Sablan and Dr. John Joyner, the governor’s senior policy adviser.

Joyner separately said that federal officials will be meeting with local officials regarding the marine monument.

“We’ve never had an advisory council meeting,” said Joyner, adding that the federal government made a thorough background check on appointees to the council.

Sablan said the U.S. departments of the Interior and Commerce have yet to appoint the third individual that Gov. Benigno Fitial recommended-acting Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Arnold Palacios. Palacios, a former House speaker, is the Division of Fish and Wildlife director, and his appointment as DLNR secretary has yet to be approved by the CNMI Senate.

“I stipulated that there will be no inaugural meeting until Arnold Palacios is appointed council member. It’s taking this long for them to appoint a member,” Sablan said.

He said there are two groups of federal officials visiting the CNMI-the members of the advisory council and another team that will visit Saipan, Tinian, and Rota primarily for the proposed regulations on the marine monument.

“Three years since the designation, and we haven’t seen any economic benefit. We don’t have a formal council meeting, we don’t have a management plan, we don’t have regulations. Those who were strongly pushing for it years back talked about $333 million in economic benefits, and 8,000 additional tourists visiting the CNMI once the marine monument is established. Where is that now? Why is everybody quiet now?” asked Sablan.

Under the presidential proclamation that established the marine monument on Jan. 6, 2009, the council should have been formed three months from the date of the proclamation.

The marine monument plan proved controversial in the CNMI, with opponents saying it will lead to restrictions on fishing and other activities in the area, while proponents said it will protect the area and result in economic benefits.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) said earlier that the federal government has been “missing timelines” on the marine monument.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sought public comments on the preparation of a marine monument management plan. But Benigno Sablan said it’s not clear whether federal officials will present the public comments received in their upcoming visit.

The marine monument spans over 480 miles and incorporates approximately 95,216 square miles within three units in the Mariana Archipelago and contains some of the nation’s most unique and pristine marine environments.