‘Process begins now to stabilize workforce’

With the signing of the federalization bill by President Bush yesterday, proponents said there are so many things to be done now to stabilize the workforce during the transition period.

Dekada Movement counsel Stephen Woodruff told Saipan Tribune that “the process begins now.”

Woodruff said the federal government has the authority now to start working on the regulations and begin setting up the organization and the staffing for its implementation.

The lawyer said there were two items of good news for the CNMI yesterday—the federalization and the Northwest Airlines’ doubling of daily Tokyo flights.

Woodruff said the CNMI is also going to have a voice now in the U.S. Congress beginning January.

“I guess we can say that things are working in the CNMI’s direction. But we’ve got a lot of work to do. We need to really address the issues right now of stabilizing the CNMI workforce…the people that are here,” he said.

The lawyer is sure that the emergency regulations for implementing the cap on the number of alien workers in the Commonwealth will come into effect immediately.

“We need to go through the process during the next year to 18 months as we move into the transition period. Everybody needs to prepare for the future. So it is just a matter of doing the work now. One step at a time and get it all done,” Woodruff said.

Candle light vigil

Several organizations on the island will be leading a candle light vigil tonight, from 6pm to 9pm, to celebrate the federalization bill’s passage. Assembly point will be at Garapan Fishing Base across the Horiguchi Building.

Among the groups that will join are the Coalition of United Workers (NMI), Human Dignity Movement, PILCOWA, Bangladeshi community, Boholano Association, Mariana Island Amateur Radio Association, and Dekada.

“Everyone’s invited to join the line from the Garapan Fishing Base going southward of Beach Road (pathway). Participants are encouraged to wear white shirt and to please bring a candle. This prayer vigil is part of Thanksgiving for the federalization and also for the provision it may give to our guest workers in the NMI,” said Jerry Custodio, president of the Human Dignity Movement.

Status

For human rights advocate Wendy Doromal, the next step is for long-term alien workers and parents of U.S. citizen children to be given status and protection during the transition period.

Doromal said she is going to Washington D.C. next week to deliver the petition of guest workers asking for green cards.

“I will also ask for immediate protection or amnesty. Today is a time for celebration, and as always, I am with the guest workers in spirit,” she said in an e-mail to Saipan Tribune.

Doromal said the law’s passage is a monumental day for every advocate, every federal official, and every person who has fought to end labor and human rights abuses in the CNMI. “It is a day of celebration for all of the guest workers who call the CNMI home,” she stressed.

Human Dignity Movement president Jerry Custodio is thankful to God, the U.S. Congress, federal officials, human rights advocates, and guest workers’ organizations.

Custodio particularly mentioned Doromal and Rep. Tina Sablan who, according to him, supported the cause of the alien workers in the CNMI.

“Although we are very happy with the development, our work is not done yet,” he said.

Custodio’s group already gathered over 6,000 signatures from foreign workers of different nationalities in their petition to seek permanent status for long-term alien workers.

He said these signatures will be forwarded by Doromal to Washington D.C. next week.