Civic group turns to lawmakers to oppose lease

The Matua Council for the Advancement of Chamorro is turning to lawmakers and other government officials as it continues to oppose a hotel and resort development on Garapan.

Liana M.S. Hofschneider, founder of the civic group, said she wrote a letter to seek lawmakers’ “assistance and guidance to look into this serious matter regarding a parcel of Public Land, containing an area of 19,154 square meters, located in Garapan.”

In her letter addressed to members of the House of Representatives and members of the Senate, Hofschneider said this particular place is called the Anaguan Village and Burial Site, which is also known as the Samoan housing federal project; and the Nakamoto project site. 

“And, as you may be aware, it is the proposed site for the casino and hotel by Imperial Pacific International (CNMI), LLC/Best Sunshine International” Hofschneider wrote.

Hofschneider cited that in the late 1990s and in 2004, archaeologists have identified 263 human remains of ancient chamorros.

She added that even archaeologists hired by Imperial Pacific reported that there were close to 200 more human remains that have been exhumed from Anaguan.  

The site was touted as the largest and most significant archaeological discovery in the history of the CNMI since 2004, which was over a decade ago, she said.

“That said, I would like to find answers as to why the CNMI Historic Preservation Office and Board did not move forward to finalize the recommendation to include the Anaguan Village and Burial Site, which is one of the oldest and largest archaeological discovery in CNMI’s history that is significant to the cultural and heritage of the Chamorro in the National Registry of Historic Places under the auspice of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966; and additional protection in P.L. 3-39; and guaranteed in our Constitution under Article XlV, Section 3.”

“Again, I plea for your intervention, and as such, I believe an oversight hearing is warranted to ensure public accountability and transparency as to how the CNMI departments, agencies, and individuals uphold both local and federal laws in our Commonwealth,” she wrote.

Hofschneider also said the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, DCCA Secretary Laura Ogumoro, Historic Preservation Office director and State Historic Preservation officer Mertie Torwal Kani, and the HPO Advisory Board members should answer why Anaguan is not in the National Registry even after being recommended numerous times by professional archaeologists.

“Similarly, the Department of Public Lands Secretary Pedro A. Tenorio should answer to the legislative oversight as to why Anaguan Village and Burial Site, which is a significant site to the culture and heritage of the Chamorros, is in the list of available public land; and even after a formal protest from the beneficiaries to cease/rescind the leasing of Anaguan,” Hofschneider said.