Previous Story
Kudos to the MPLA
|
Posted on Sep 24 2005
Kudos to the Marianas Public Lands’ staff, management and board of directors. They should be commended for initiating and implementing the Northern Marianas Descent Registry Program. It is high time that such a registry and accountability of Northern Marianas-descent are recognized and registered so that the Marianas Public Land Trust and its trustees can better account who can be eligible to benefit from the trust monies as well as revenues derived from public land leases.
Perhaps this registry can be used on who can be eligible to vote for changes and/or maintenance of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands private and public lands law governing Article XII of the NMI Constitution. Article XII states that only people of Northern Marianas-descent can own land in fee simple absolute. All others can lease land not to exceed 55 years.
On another pertinent issue on the Letter to Editor on Marianas Variety dated Sept. 23, 2005, Mr. Rip Stephanson mentioned about MPLA charging for lease of public lands to have buried cables that MTC installed at great expenses. Again, kudos to MPLA for protecting the NMI descents’ greatest asset—its public lands. All public lands belong collectively to the people of NMI descent and MPLA has the fiduciary duties and responsibilities to manage and dispose of public lands. In this instance, MPLA will charge a fee for the lease of public lands that all MTC cables run underground. This is normal business sense. For example, no private landowner will be willing to allow another person or a business or government agency to run a utility easement without being compensated for the use of his/her property, whether in the ground, on the ground or above the ground. It’s the right of the landowner. Furthermore, the monies collected from the leases will be used to benefit NMI descents through programs such as homestead developments and scholarships for our aspiring NMI descent college students.
On behalf of myself, my wife and my children—all NMI descents—thank you for implementing the NMI Descent Registry.
Vicente M. Sablan
Saipan
