CNMI maps out plan for hearings

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio met for two hours yesterday with Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, CNMI resident representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta, leaders of the Legislature and their legal counsels to plan a strategy for the upcoming hearings in the U.S. Congress next month.

He, however, dodged questions from reporters regarding specific details of the discussion, saying only that they are preparing to draw up a “united position” when they appear before the House Resources Committee as well as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington D.C.

Asked if they would continue to block the federal takeover legislation pending in the Senate, Tenorio said “those are the issues that we have to respond during the hearing.”

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente, who was at the meeting, was more precise as he disclosed that the discussion was called to brief island officials on the hearings before Babauta leaves for the U.S. capital.

“There is no question that the leadership is going there to oppose the legislation,” he said in a separate meeting, adding they would stress reforms on “why we are successful in our efforts and our ability to control our own immigration.”

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) has called its hearing scheduled on September 14 to tackle the measure which he co-sponsored with Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

The legislation will seek full application of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act in the Northern Marianas amid alleged failure by the Commonwealth government to curb the number of alien workers on the island.

Local leaders have consistently fought against such a measure due to its devastating impact on the island’s economy largely dependent on foreign workforce due to limited number of labor pool readily available here.

According to Tenorio, they have prepared a strategy to respond to questions during the Senate hearing. He said they have also planned a move for the House oversight on Sept. 16 which Resources Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) called to update the panel of the conditions in the CNMI.

The inquiry will also focus on federal assistance to the CNMI as well as status of labor and immigration reforms put in place by the island government.

“We have to make sure that the Legislature and the Washington representative are involved with the Senate and House hearing,” the local chief executive explained. “We are discussing some of the suggestions made by the (two) committee chairmen.”

Benavente pointed out they need to help each other, CNMI officials and the private sector, during the back-to-back hearings to present a strong position before the Congress.

Members of the Legislature and administration officials are scheduled to leave on the second week of September for D.C. Representatives of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the hotel association and other business groups are also expected to attend.

“That’s why we are together because we are united in our position in all the issues,” said Tenorio. “The chamber has its own position and I’m sure that the position… will be for their best interest and for the interest of the people and the government.”

Both House and Senate committees have oversight on the Northern Marianas as well as other U.S. insular areas.