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Certified question on land comp law to be filed in next few weeks
Saipan Local Law 18-19 has been in the books since July but landowners whose properties were taken by the government for public use many years ago have yet to see a single cent from the statute that earmarked $800,000 for land compensation.
Now that the 2014 general election is over, expect the Office of the Attorney General to finally file a certified question with the NMI Supreme Court in the next couple of weeks, according to press secretary and representative-elect Angel Demapan.
“The attorney general will consult with the governor along with the secretary of Public Lands as to whom from the Legislature will join in filing the certified question. If a member of the Legislature agrees, then the Office of the Attorney General will work with the legislator to file the petition. Although our office cannot give an exact date when the certified question will be filed, we believe in a quick resolution of the matter and will work to have the certified question filed within the next few weeks,” said Demapan in an email to Saipan Tribune.
At least three members of the House of Representatives have volunteered to sign off on the certified question for SLL 18-9: House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and Reps. Tony Benavente (Ind-Saipan) and Chris Leon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan).
Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair Ramon Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) earlier agreed to sign off on the certified question, but backed off at the last minute while requesting that Public Lands Secretary Pete A. Tenorio provide a detailed accounting of the Managaha Island landing fees. The lawmaker also asked Tenorio to resign.
Under SLL 18-19, $800,000 in Managaha landing fees should be paid for Saipan land compensation within 60 days of the local bill becoming law. The same law appropriates $100,000 each to the Northern Marianas Descent Corp. and the NMI Museum of History and Culture, but within 90 days of the measure becoming law.
A total of 223 Saipan landowners stand to get anywhere between 89 cents and over $190,000 from SLL 18-9 based on DPL’s calculation sent to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
