‘A legacy truly worthy of the CNMI’s children’

I am a proud Chamorro. I am proud of our history, both ancient and more recent. I am proud of our role in the Pacific World War II. I am proud of our progressive Constitution, one of only a handful worldwide that enshrines a traditional conservation ethic into law. And I am proud that the federal government wants to work with us to create the world’s second largest marine monument in the waters surrounding our northernmost islands.

Our proud culture of conservation is enshrined in our Constitution, protecting our three northernmost islands. Although these islands are remote, increasing global pressure on fisheries, particularly in nearby Asia, do not make them immune to ecological and economic pressures. Add to the growing, global climate change, and it is clear that these island gems are not altogether safe from future management challenges.

Therefore, it only makes sense to extend those protections on land to the sea. The proposed monument is an opportunity to highlight and honor our traditions of conservation and sensible resource management. We need to engage legislators in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere and let them know how we want our monument protected. While we sit in the dark, while our tourists get stranded at the airport, now is not the time to complain about this historic opportunity to really put the CMNI on the map. The proposed monument will give us something to be proud of, something our children will thank us for. It is time for the people of CNMI, Chamorros and others, to stand up for our heritage and our future. Now is the time.

Let’s get one thing straight. Right now, the folks in Washington, D.C. want to talk with us about this proposal. The new monument in the northwestern Hawaiian islands ensures that local people have an active voice in the management of the waters. It ensures that the research and tourism that take place in the monument benefit the people of Hawaii. We can have that here.

This is an historic opportunity. The proposed monument could bring hundreds of much needed jobs to the CNMI. It could make our islands a unique, international destination for tourists and marine researchers. It could significantly help our sagging economy.

Rather than hanging our head in shame as “Saipan, that little island with big power outages and corrupt politicians,” we could walk with our heads held high. We would be lauded as the little islands that could. We could have an ongoing dialogue with Washington, D.C. about what we want our monument to look like. We could be known as a world leader in marine conservation. We could be known as an international hotspot for marine research. And we could revive our struggling tourism industry.

The proposed marine monument would truly be a legacy worthy of our children. It would continue our time-honored traditions of conservation and sustainable management. It would be a source of pride, a place of learning, and international example of modern marine management. This is not the time for pointless posturing and infighting. It is the time to do right by our children, and by our heritage. The choice is ours.