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DOD approves Torres’ request to table CJMT
The administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres announced over the weekend that the CNMI Joint Military Training is has been tabled after the U.S. Department of Defense approved Torres’ request to focus on the Air Force’s divert activities on Tinian.
In a statement from the administration, it said the CJMT is “formally off the table” for discussions to focus on the Tinian divert activities.
During the governor’s October 2017 trip to Washington, D.C., Torres wrote Assistant Secretary of Defense Lucian Niemeyer prior to meeting with him in person to propose temporarily putting on hold all CJMT discussion to focus “collective energy and attention” on the Tinian divert activities.
“I strongly believe, if we cannot transition divert from analysis and planning to construction and operations, then investing time, energy, and resources on the CJMT is questionable and possibly futile,” said Torres in his undated letter to Niemeyer.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority board accepted last Tuesday the Tinian divert airfield proposal submitted by the U.S. Air Force.
“I openly admit my colleagues and I have been very cautious and deliberative. Please do not confuse our attention to detail and meticulousness as a stalling tactic,” said Torres, adding that he and his administration “understand the magnitude and potential consequences” their decisions will have on the culture, the environment, and the “character and quality of life” for citizens.
“Accordingly, we will always err on being cautious and conservative, since we all recognize our decisions will have comprehensive and lasting impacts to the islands we cherish and call home.”
According to press secretary Kevin Bautista, Torres’ letter was not immediately released due to the ongoing Tinian divert program discussions between DOD and CPA.
The CJMT includes an agreement on using a portion of Tinian as well as Pagan as a site for live-fire training by the U.S. Navy Marine Corps.
