Few attend Article 12 public hearings

Initial public hearings on proposed amendments to the land alienation act have drawn sparse crowds.

Fewer than 50 people attended the legislative hearings held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to hear testimony on proposals to amend Article XII of the Constitution.

Rep. Ramon Tebuteb, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, did not hide his disappointment. Much effort was made to inform the public about the event and the issues under discussions, he said.

However, Tebuteb expressed belief that a wide spectrum of opinion on the proposals was represented at the hearings.

Witnesses who testified at the hearings include government officials, business people, community leaders, and ordinary citizens.

For instance, Marian Aldan-Pierce, co-chair of the Strategic Economic Development Council and president of DFS Galleria, reiterated the private sector’s support for extended leasehold interests for private lands.

The Marianas Public Land Trust asked the Legislature to defer action on the proposed constitutional amendment until 2011, when the CNMI will revisit its land alienation policy as set in the Covenant.

For his part, former House Speaker Pedro Guerrero spoke against the initiative allowing MPLT income to be used for the purposes of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Gregorio Sablan spoke about the legal issues surrounding the possible vote on the Article XII initiatives.

Under the Constitution, only voters of Northern Marianas descent may cast votes on a proposed amendment to the land alienation act. This restriction, however, may be interpreted by some as tantamount to infringing the rights of the non-indigenous voters.

The public hearings held this week were for House Legislative Initiatives 16-3, 16-4, and 16-8.

H.L.I. 16-3 will allow the government to tap at least US$25 million generated through leasing public lands so that it can be funneled for the financially troubled Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

H.L.I. 16-4 proposes the extension of leasehold interest on private lands from 55 to 75 years.

Rep. Heinz Hofschneider authored both initiatives.

Sponsored by Rep. Victor B. Hocog, H.L.I 16-8 seeks to allow each senatorial district to amend or repeal the restrictions on alienation of land with respect to its senatorial district.

On April 9 and 10, the House Natural Resources Committee will conduct public hearings on H.L.I. 16-5 in the Legislature and in the Multi Purpose Center respectively.

The initiative, also sponsored by Hofschneider, will allow the cash-strapped government to borrow money from legitimate financial institutions for its operating expenses.

Rota citizens will have the opportunity to submit oral testimony on initiatives 16-3, 16-4, and 16-8 on April 7, and on initiative 16-5 on April 18. Both public hearings will begin at 6pm and will be held at the Rota Round House.

The Tinian public hearings will be held at 6pm on April 22 for initiatives 16-3, 16-4, and 16-8, and on April 23 for initiative 16-5. The venue is the Tinian Elementary School cafeteria.