Fitial govt cites importance of undersea lands

Acknowledging that the CNMI has fully exhausted judicial remedies on the submerged lands issue, the Fitial-Villagomez administration is hopeful that the U.S. Congress might still consider granting the CNMI greater control over its submerged lands for economic reasons.

With the pronounced weakness in the CNMI’s tourism and apparel industries, the administration is looking for other economic alternatives, such as the mining of underwater resources. In January of 2006, for example, the new administration received a letter of interest from Neptune Minerals Limited, a British company interested in mining seafloor sulphide deposits within 200 miles of the CNMI.

“If the federal government allows the CNMI greater control over its ocean resources, it would stand to benefit financially at a time when government revenues are very scarce,” said press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.

Since the new administration assumed office in January, it has instituted a number of cost-cutting measures, including severely restricted government travel, hiring controls, and telephone line and cell phone disconnections. The administration has also revised the $213 million FY’ 06 budget under continuing resolution down to $198.5 million for FY ’06 and even further down to $193.5 million for FY ’07. To salvage the CNMI government’s financial state, the administration is also relying on implementing wage cuts and reforming a very costly government pension program.

To help address the CNMI government’s worsening financial crisis, the Fitial-Villagomez administration has also appealed to Washington, D.C. for direct financial assistance, but a ranking Interior Department official recently downplayed the chances of direct federal financial assistance, saying that it is unrealistic.

“If the federal government is not willing to help with additional financial assistance, it might at least give us the tools to become more financially self-sufficient through our own efforts,” said Reyes. “This could be accomplished through the federal government’s agreement to grant the CNMI meaningful control over our submerged lands, so we can develop a whole new industry,” Reyes added.

The administration, through Reyes, maintains that the submerged lands issue is not a matter of greed. “It’s a matter of economic survival.” (PR)