Legislative leaders ask Pula for $40,000

Top leaders of the Legislature have requested a $40,000 grant from Office of Insular Affairs to assist the CNMI in hosting the annual conference of youth service providers in Micronesia.

In a joint Dec. 11 letter to OIA Director Nikolau Pula, Senate President Pete P. Reyes and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios said the funding will be used to cover the cost of travel for youth and service provider participants from Guam and other neighboring islands.

Reyes and Palacios said the money will also be used to pay for the cost of the three-day conference, which will take place March 30 to April 1, 2009.

The Micronesian Youth Services Network plans to hold its 5th Annual Conference on Saipan. The theme is “Strengthening Micronesian Communities: One Youth at a Time.”

Youth service providers from the CNMI, Guam, Palau, and Chuuk organized the MYSN in 1990. A non-profit organization, MYSN was formed to follow other regional groups such as the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.

MYSN’s primary purpose is to encourage youth service providers, educators, and other youth advocates to develop and support policies and best practices in their work for young people. It is also intended to facilitate regional exchange and dialogue on common areas of concern and interest.

Reyes and Palacios informed Pula that last Nov. 28, they met with members of MSYN, Guam Labor Director Maria S. Connelly, and Sanctuary Inc. executive director Sarah M. Thomas-Nededog where the planned conference was discussed.

“We fully support this conference as the CNMI is faced with several social economic challenges,” the two lawmakers said.

In recent weeks, Reyes and Palacios said there has been a rash of violent crimes involving the island’s youth. “One such crime involved the murder of a high school security guard and another involving a violent carjacking,” they said.

Efren Ballesteros was murdered and robbed during a burglary at Marianas High School in Susupe last month. Three MHS students are facing charges.

The two lawmakers added that there have been several reports of school violence from the elementary levels through high school.

Reyes and Palacios said they believe that the conference presents an opportunity to share information in order to better address youth issues of the region.

“However, given the current economic climate in the CNMI, Guam and Micronesian, the local business sectors and local governments are unable to provide the needed funding to ensure participation from all sectors and from all the Micronesian islands,” Reyes and Palacios told Pula.