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Pew’s plans on NI monument
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Posted on Sep 02 2008
A cursory review of Section 806 of the Covenant Agreement addresses the acquisition of additional real estate in the CNMI by the federal government. The law states in part:
“If the United States must acquire any interest in real property not transferred to it under this Covenant, it will follow the policy of seeking to acquire only minimum area necessary to accomplish the public purpose for which the real property is required….”
It further states, “The United States may, upon prior written notice to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands, acquire for public purposes in accordance with federal laws and procedures any interest in real property in the Northern Mariana Islands by purchase, lease, exchange, gift or otherwise under such terms and conditions as may be negotiated by the parties.”
It also states, “No interest in real property will be acquired unless duly authorized by the Congress of the United States and appropriations are available therefore.”
The solicitation of views established by President Bush, in my view, acknowledges the spirit and letter of Section 806 of the Covenant Agreement. Pew must respect this provision of law and the ancestral rights of the indigenous people in the disposition of what it rightfully owns under the umbrella of their rights to greater degree of self-government abundantly provided for under the Covenant.
We ask for nothing less. After all, the preservation of islands and surrounding waters up north are sufficiently protected under the CNMI Constitution. There’s no need to pile up more than our share of federal impositions.
[B]Candy B. Taman[/B] [I]Former member, CNMI House of Representativesvia e-mail[/I]
