2 GOP lawmakers hope Trump addresses NMI issues

Two NMI Republican Party lawmakers hope that President-elect Donald J. Trump would help address the issues of the CNMI and other territories, especially those in the Pacific region. It has been a week since the GOP bet defeated former State Secretary Hillary R. Clinton to become the 45th U.S. President. Trump beat Clinton by getting 276 electoral votes against the latter’s 218 that put an end to a bitter, contentious, and hard-fought campaign between two of the most unpopular candidates in U.S. election history.

Senate vice president Arnold I. Palacios (R-Ind) said he is hopeful the CNMI and other territories would also benefit after the Republicans regained control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, particularly the CNMI that is currently experiencing labor and immigration issues.

“I really do hope that President-elect Trump’s win will be good to the CNMI and the other territories. I’m hopeful that our issues would be given attention to, especially that the governor is part of an advisory committee under Mr. Trump,” said Palacios.

Palacios and Rep. Angel A. Demapan are both part of the CNMI panel, headed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, that is engaged in 902 talks with the federal side led by Office of Insular Affairs Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina.

Palacios is chair of the Senate Committee on Federal Relations and Independent Agencies while Demapan is his counterpart in the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs.

Palacios said that he wants to make sure that the desires of the citizens of the Marianas would be properly addressed. “I’m very hopeful that Mr. Trump would include the CNMI and the rest of the territories once he forms his administration and his policies.”

“We don’t want to be unique. We’re not asking for special privileges…but we want to make sure that our issues are also taken cared off and addressed. That’s why we, Angel and I, are trying to continue to push for the issues in the 902 talks,” he added.

Palacios said they want to make sure that meetings and conversations with their federal counterparts would continue. “We discuss issues with them like labor and immigration. Or the plans by Department of Defense.”

“We’ve met a lot of helpful people in the federal government and they assured us that they are looking into our concerns—our thoughts on the CW1 and military issues. All we can do now is to work hard, communicate and speak about our needs, our desires as citizens of the far-flung islands.”

Advisory committee

Demapan also sees positive results in Torres’ appointment as co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Islanders Advisory Committee. “We’re hoping this is the beginning of a much closer relationship between the federal government, and the CNMI and other territories. Hopefully, it would translate to benefits for us under the Trump administration.”

“It is still very early and we don’t know what the Trump administration is going to take in terms of policies related to the CNMI. Since there is an interaction between the President-elect and Gov. Torres, we’re hopeful that coming from [the local GOP] there would be more benefits to us,” said Demapan.

Demapan, who was re-elected as one of the six representatives of Precinct 1, said he would continue what he started in the 19th Legislature.

“I would maintain my position as an adamant defender and advocate of CNMI’s rights. There are a lot of people who are concerned on some of the federal policies, ranging from militarization, labor, and immigration.”

He added that the local GOP also has the numbers in the Legislature, which would place them in a better position to push for their plans and programs of the party. “I will continue to take the position and adcvocate for the best interests of the CNMI.”

“Now that we have a Republican majority—House and Senate—we’re in a good position to work closely with the governor’s administration and requesting for what we believe is best for the CNMI in terms of federal policy.”