Tinian to get $21M from divert airfield accord

Years of meetings, negotiations, and back-and-forth talks between the CNMI and the U.S. Department of Defense ended last Friday, with both parties finally signing the purchase agreement for the Tinian divert airfield.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Commonwealth Ports Authority officials led by acting board chair Tom Villagomez, Tinian officials led by Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas, Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), and Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield were there to witness the signing.

Torres and Demapan were part of the CNMI panel that negotiated the deal a few years ago, the latter being the chairman of the House Committee of Federal and Foreign Affairs in the 19th CNMI Legislature.

In a later statement, Torres said that last Friday was a historic day for the people of Tinian and the entire CNMI. “After years of constructive conversations and intense negotiations, our leadership and the [CPA] officially signed the purchase agreement for the Tinian divert airfield.”

“This was a long process, and it wasn’t an idea that was brought yesterday. It went through different leaders, public hearings, and numerous conference calls. It’s an agreement that has been in the works for several years and is the result of partnerships that we fostered over time.”

He added that the lease agreement is worth $21.9 million and would directly benefit both the people of Tinian and the entire CNMI, and their military partners. “These partnerships are one of the reasons why we see our military directly assisting us with our recovery efforts now.”

“The priority for the divert airfield was always about protecting the people of the CNMI and fulfilling the promises made in our Covenant agreement with the United States.”

The money is also expected to be used to improve the facilities of the Tinian International Airport.

Torres said the people of Tinian should also be thankful for the committed leadership of San Nicolas, Sens. Francisco Borja (R-Tinian), Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), and Francisco Cruz (R-Tinian), CPA board member Kimberly King-Hinds, their Municipal Council, and Demapan, who joined him in negotiating the deal.

He also thanked DoD Deputy Assistant Secretary Allison Sands, Hope Marini, Chatfield, CPA executive director Chris Tenorio, and the entire CPA board for their hard work and dedication.

The project would result in the construction of a “divert” airfield on Tinian—essentially an alternative landing site for U.S. Air Force planes in case the Anderson Air Force Base in Guam is inaccessible due to war or calamities.