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House backs expedited mining project
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Posted on Mar 09 2006
The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution calling for the expedited kickoff of the Pagan mining project by JG Sablan Rock Quarry and Bridgecreek International Corp.
This came even as the House has a pending bill that would halt all mining operations in Pagan until a mining task force had been formed and all interested investors had gone through a bid process.
H.R. 15-24 urges Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to expedite the Pagan mining project with the joint venture company formed by the local company JG Sablan and the Los Angeles-based Bridgecreek.
The resolution notes that the joint venture was “consistent with the CNMI government’s economic policy of inviting new and fresh investments and revenues to the CNMI, which is essential to reduce the imposition of austerity measures.”
“The members of the House of Representatives are extremely grateful for the joint venture of JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. and Bridgecreek International Corp. for their strong desire and commitment to infuse new and fresh investments and revenues to the financially strapped CNMI government,” a portion of resolution reads.
At least one House member, however, expressed opposition to the resolution.
Rep. Cinta Kaipat, a member of the watchdog organization PaganWatch, said the resolution seemed to be “a political favor” for a certain group.
She noted that the resolution was passed without much discussion. The measure, she added, ran in contrast to the mining task force bill and came in line with JG Sablan-Bridgecreek’s attempts to circumvent her bill.
“I’m the author of that bill and I intend it to include JG Sablan-Bridgecreek,” Kaipat said in response to the joint venture company’s claim that the bill would apply only to new mining permit applicants and not JG Sablan-Bridgrecreek.
The author of the resolution, House Floor Leader Florencio Deleon Guerrero, has also co-sponsored Kaipat’s task force bill.
