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TaoTao Tano, alien workers group solicit opinions on status proposal
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Posted on Apr 08 2008
The TaoTao Tano CNMI Association and the Long-Term Status Working Group will be hosting a series of discussion forums where they plan to ask community members to share their views on a possible longer-term residence status for qualified foreign workers.
TaoTao Tano president Greg Cruz said in a statement released yesterday that his group and foreign workers’ organizations such as the Dekada Movement and MOVERS are willing to set aside their differences and “set out a new course of direction to find solutions to this ongoing nonresident issues in our homeland for it is the right thing to do.”
The first forum will be held tonight at the Kagman Community Center at 6pm; followed by San Vicente Elementary School on April 10 at 6pm, Garapan Elementary School on April 16 at 6pm, and the Koblerville Elementary School on April 17 at 6pm.
Community members are encouraged to share their opinions on how many years of successful work in the Commonwealth should qualify a foreign worker for longer-term residence status, thoughts on social responsibility requirements such as basic English skills and classes in CNMI history, the kind of financial responsibility requirements that would be fair, and other factors that should be considered.
Cruz said that alien workers’ groups have come to him for a dialogue and that they have expressed respect for his views.
“So let’s leave what is past in the past, at least on this issue,” Cruz said.
He added that it is time to find solutions to what is in the best interest for everyone in the community and the CNMI as a whole.
“Let us concentrate first on this one issue, and if we are successful here, maybe we can proceed to all other issues affecting each and everyone in the CNMI,” Cruz said.
He said the TaoTao Tano group wants to reiterate and “wish to convey, acknowledge, and recognize the many contribution the foreign guest workers had contributed [to] our homeland.”
