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Resolve submerged lands, EEZ issues first
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Posted on Oct 22 2008
The Pew proposal for a marine monument touches on the many unresolved questions concerning the CNMI’s rights to submerged lands and economic zone. A federal circuit court of appeals has decided that the CNMI lost ownership of the submerged lands at the time the Covenant was signed. Although the federal court’s interpretation of the issue is settled, the CNMI still can seek redress in Congress to regain some of the submerged lands. I believe that the submerged lands issue must be settled in Congress before a final decision to erect the proposed Pew monument is made. I would hope that those who run and support Pew would agree. Taking steps in this order will help clear up the mistrust that has been generated by what seems to be a push to hastily finalize the marine monument before the people of the CNMI are comfortable with it.
The President and Congress should not to take action on the marine monument until our issues concerning the submerged lands and economic zone are resolved. We must work with Congress to resolve the CNMI’s submerged lands issue and simultaneously negotiate the details of our economic zone. After completing those issues, that’s when we should work with Pew to help establish a marine monument to preserve our islands’ beauty, native species, and our culture for future generations. We must jointly be involved in the process with the experts.
Some candidates for delegate are promising they will deliver the moon, but we must remain realistic. My position is that the CNMI must be given no less than any other coastal economic zone, and that there are good reasons based on our unique history and circumstances why our economic zone should be more expansive. It will take a few years of building strong relationships and fostering trust in Congress and the federal agencies to make those reasons understood, appreciated, and translated into a larger economic zone.
[B]Juan T. Lizama[/B] [I]Papago, Saipan[/I]
