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Landowner postpones blockade plan
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Posted on Mar 08 2006
A Saipan landowner has temporarily put on hold his family’s planned road blockade pending negotiations with the Department of Public Lands.
Pedro B. Camacho, spokesman for the heirs of the late Juan N. Camacho, said yesterday that the department called him up recently to discuss his family’s land claim.
“Negotiation is ongoing. We are sitting down with the government to settle the matter. Road blockade would be the ultimate action [if nothing happens],” said Camacho.
He said the department is asking for additional information about the land claim.
Camacho warned last week that if the government fails to pay for their land immediately, his family would block the area—the main road north of Saipan located between Tanapag and San Roque.
Camacho said that he has the support of other unpaid landowners on the island. He said others are ready to block their respective lands from public access.
Camacho’s land was taken by the government 40 years ago.
Camacho’s family is seeking compensation for 1,792 square meters of land, worth about $896,000.
Other Camacho heirs have separate claims in the adjacent lots.
Camacho earlier expressed dismay at the former Marianas Public Lands Authority’s inaction over his claim.
MPLA had received $28 million bond money for land compensation two years ago. MPLA said that this fund is now almost depleted.
Camacho said his family has already waited far too long.
He said that acting DPL Secretary John S. Del Rosario is holding meetings with him on the matter.
