Villagomez accepts Palacios’ invitation to join 902 team
House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) accepted on Wednesday Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ invitation for him to join the CNMI team for the 902 talks between the CNMI and U.S. governments.
Villagomez informed Palacios in a letter that he is eager and ready to be part of the CNMI team on behalf of the 23rd House for Section 902 of the Covenant consultations with the U.S. government.
He said he believes that the CNMI’s priority issues that Palacios proposes to engage with the U.S. government such as direct financial assistance under Section 702 of the Covenant; tourism and transportation; and access to skilled labor, are pivotal for the Commonwealth’s economic growth and sustainability.
“Thank you for the opportunity to partake in attaining our goal to improve the lives of our people through our Covenant with the United States,” Villagomez told the governor.
The House speaker said in an interview yesterday that it’s always good that they can sit down with the U.S. government and have a real discussion and see what they can come to in terms of the help that the CNMI needs regarding the issues here in the Commonwealth.
“So I think it’s very important and it’s a very good opportunity for the CNMI and the U.S.,” he said.
Last Friday, May 10, Palacios sent similar letters to Villagomez and Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), inviting them, or their designees, to join the CNMI 902 team.
On that same day, last Friday, DeLeon Guerrero accepted the governor’s invitation.
DeLeon Guerrero said she looks forward to a 902 team that will be cohesive and harmonious in presenting the CNMI’s plans to redefine and redirect all efforts for a better economy, enhancement of the tourism industry, expanded and fortified infrastructure, and a healthy local workforce.
Last April 26, Palacios sent a letter to U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. requesting consultations between the CNMI and U.S. governments pursuant to Section 902 of the Covenant to establish the CNMI in a political union with the U.S.
Section 902 provides that the U.S. and CNMI governments “will designate special representatives to meet and consider in good faith such issues affecting the relationship between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States as may be designated by either government and to make a report and recommendations with respect thereto.”
The Covenant provides for the 902 talks every 10 years.
The last 902 talks were held in 2016, which took place in Washington, D.C., the CNMI, and Honolulu. Palacios himself served as a representative of the Senate in those consultations.
Edmund S. Villagomez
