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‘Live-fire demo elsewhere is not going to convince CNMI’
Witnessing “live-fire” exercises outside the Commonwealth is not likely to change the opinion of CNMI lawmakers when it comes to these military exercises.
The idea was broached when representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense recently met with CNMI lawmakers to further discuss proposed military activities on Tinian and Pagan.
During the said meeting, House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) inquired on how the military can really show lawmakers the effect of live-fire exercises.
Craig Whelden, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific executive director, said the DoD can arrange for CNMI lawmakers to witness live-fire in Hawaii, because it is unlikely that the military will be allowed to conduct such demo on Tinian or Pagan.
But Deleon Guerrero said inviting lawmakers to witness live-fire in another place “will not be the same” as witnessing it in the CNMI.
“Witnessing it (live-fire exercises) taking place somewhere else is not going to convince us,” the House speaker said.
Deleon Guerrero said the reason for this is the wind condition, sound, distance, and pollution should be considered during the demo.
The lawmaker said there are unexploded ordnance in the Commonwealth and perhaps the military can “use” these ordnance to simulate a “live-fire” exercise.
“We explode ordnance here on Saipan. After an unexploded ordnance is found, we bring it to Marpi. What if they do the same thing on Tinian? Why can’t they at least start with that?” Deleon Guerrero said.
He said a live-fire demo will not just show lawmakers but also members of the community the effects of live-fire training.
Deleon Guerrero also said the military might be hesitant to conduct live-fire demo on the Commonwealth because it “would be another process” that they need to undergo and that it might be “too much of a hassle” to the military.
