Saipan may regress to coconut, fish economy

If existing federal restrictions on use of public lands remain, the Northern Marianas may witness a grand return to subsistence livelihood which it was once known for before it became a prime tour destination.

Former Covenant negotiator and lieutenant governor Pete A. Tenorio said the Northern Marianas economy will ultimately regress due to current federal statutes which act as incentive to potential land development in the CNMI.

“Without the assurance that these will be reformed or made development-friendly, we will not be able to realistically attract investors for both short-term and long-term investments,” Mr. Tenorio said in a letter to US Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

He is recommending a serious review of several “impractical and regressive” federal laws that are now being applied to island governments which, he said, are detrimental to the economic survival of insular territories.

Mr. Tenorio particularly mentioned the federal Endangered Species Act that has subjected large scale land development investments to a rigid standstill, resulting in the loss of several hundred million dollars worth of tourism and resort projects.

He pointed out that these projects are practical and consistent with small islands’ environment and investment incentives.

“Our economy will ultimately regress, and it will not be inconceivable to expect the resurgence of a truly ‘coconut and fish’ economy that once typified the islands of Micronesia,” said Mr. Tenorio.

He is asking Ms. Norton’s assistance in correcting the “economic and social injustices that were purposely and indignantly imposed” for eight years in the CNMI by the previous White House administration.

“We look forward to a full participation in the Bush Administration, and are hopeful that our political relationship under the Covenant will be mutually undertaken with a renewed and solemn sense of sensitivity and responsibility consistent with the American tradition of equality and justice for all,” he told Ms. Norton.

The United States government has been asked to review the present applicability and the impact of the federal Endangered Species Act as it applies to the development of both private and public lands in the CNMI.

“Because of the existence of an endangered bird species on Saipan, the CNMI government cannot even construct a solid waste landfill which will eventually phase out the existence of open garbage dumps that are presently scattered throughout out islands,” he said.

Mr. Tenorio added that some of the open garbage dumpsites in the CNMI are nestled in between communities and public parks, and even located as close as 200-400 feet from two major oil and fuel storage facilities.

“Please visit us soon to witness these deplorable situation created and perpetuated by our open dumping practices because of our inability to construct permanent landfill due to the presence of an endangered bird species on the proposed landfill site,” he told Ms. Norton in a letter.

According to Mr. Tenorio, the federal office in charge of the administration and enforcement of the birds are disinterested in helping the CNMI expedite solutions. “At times we are afraid to inquire, express our concerns or suggest.”

With limited land resources, Mr. Tenorio said the CNMI does not need other unnecessary restrictions that would further compound the Commonwealth’s problems in maximizing uses of public lands for economic and other social development. (ARF)