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‘Lift homestead moratorium’
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Posted on May 13 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta wants the existing homestead moratorium on Saipan and Rota lifted.
In a May 5 transmittal letter to the Legislature, Babauta disclosed that he has actually advised the Marianas Public Lands Authority to begin accepting homestead applications again.
“I have requested the MPLA board to lift this moratorium and begin accepting new applications and processing pending applications for village homesteads on Saipan and Rota,” said Babauta.
He said this as he signed House Bill 14-31 into law, which entitles individuals who have been utilizing public agricultural land for 15 years to own it.
The governor said he is aware that the MPLA expressed apprehension that the measure “may further reduce the availability of public lands” and affect the homestead program.
“I believe that this measure will not adversely affect the village homestead program,” said the governor.
The MPLA has stopped accepting new village homestead applications on Saipan and village and agricultural homestead applications on Rota since October 1, 2002, citing lack of available public lands.
The MPLA had said it has some 5,000 pending applications for homestead projects.
