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Group seeks homestead list
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Posted on Mar 23 2008
Local advocacy group Taotao Tano CNMI Inc. has requested the Commonwealth’s Homestead Program to provide a list of homestead applicants that have been granted lots the past two years.
In an Open Government Act request, Taotao Tano president Gregorio Cruz Jr. asked the Division of Homestead Programs the list of homestead lots approved in the past 24 months.
“As you may be aware we are currently looking into public land issues here. Since you are the new head of the Homestead Programs we would like to obtain under the Open Government Act Public Law 8-41 a list of all homestead applicants that were granted a homestead lot in the past 24 months (two years),” said Cruz in a letter to the agency addressed to Mr. Rabauliman.
He added that the request should include applicants that were granted a lot from previously revoked homesteads or vacant lots.
Taotao Tano, a group made up of mostly indigenous people, has drawn both praise and contempt from local community members since its formation just a few months ago.
While some see Taotao Tano as the voice of the marginalized, others frown on the group’s often belligerent approach.
This past week alone, Taotao Tano has requested the Office of Public Auditor to audit the Department of Public Lands and the defunct Marianas Public Land Authority, criticized House Speaker Arnold Palacios over his comments that blamed the Senate for the problems now besetting the government-run utility, and sided with House Ways and Means chair Ray Yumul that Legislative Bureau staff should be converted to civil service employees.
