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Council to take up land taking in panel discussion
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Posted on Nov 30 2006
As a part of its ongoing Community and the Law Forum series, the NMI Council for the Humanities invites the public to a panel discussion on land taking at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center Theater on Dec. 5 at 6:30pm.
The panel discussion—entitled “The Government Wants to Take My Land: What is a ‘Taking’ and ‘Just Compensation?’ Why Does it Happen? How Does it Work? How is my Land Valued”—will be moderated by attorney Robert T. Torres with Mitch Aaron former judge Timothy Bellas, Attorney General Matthew Gregory, Henry Hofschneider Alan Lane, and Manny Pangelinan as panel members.
The U.S. Constitution, through the Fifth Amendment, and the CNMI Constitution both state that there shall be no taking of land without just compensation. This clause has been the subject of much discussion and dispute in many communities.
Land may be taken pursuant to the land compensation statute by public agencies such as the Department of Public Works and the Division of Public Lands. The second way is through an “eminent domain” proceeding.
The forum will offer the community members the opportunity to understand this process of either “friendly” compensation or eminent domain as a process in which private land is taken by the government.
Panel members will explain the meaning of such terms as “taking” “just compensation” and “public purpose” here in the Commonwealth.
Because the forum may evoke emotions or a desire to discuss particular pending cases, the Council will be clear that the panel members will not engage in that approach. The forum is intended to be a professional and respectful dialogue between panel members and the audience in order to reach an informed understanding of the process.
Contact Humanities Council staff at 235-4785 for more details. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
