Legislators want U.S.-CNMI ‘misunderstanding’ resolved

Legislative leaders yesterday expressed optimism on the resumption of consultation talks between the CNMI and the United States aimed to iron out differences that have soured bilateral relations, saying they will raise strong opposition against a federal takeover.

While their meeting with Edward B. Cohen, President Clinton’s special representative to the 902 talks, will be informal, key members of the CNMI Legislature said it served as an opportunity to exchange views on issues affecting relations with Washington.

Contentious topics on local labor and immigration will inevitably be brought up in the discussion when Cohen meets with lawmakers on Thursday on Tinian as part of his four-day visit on the island to resume the talks provided under Section 902 of the Covenant.

According to Senate Floor leader Pete P. Reyes, they are looking at the meeting as a venue to strongly voice out their opposition against the White House’s plan to strip local authority on immigration and minimum wage laws on the island.

The proposal — a Clinton’s agenda despite split views in the U.S. Congress — has largely aided a strained relations in recent years, clouding any joint action to solve social and economic problems dogging the Northern Marianas.

“We want this misunderstanding to be understood this time,” Reyes said in an interview. “I will be completely honest and straightforward with (Cohen) and say that the people of the CNMI and their elected officials are strongly opposed to any takeover move.”

Senate President Paul A. Manglona pointed out that lawmakers are hoping to tackle what they consider as federal misconception on CNMI situation that has cited their failure and inadequacies to undertake labor and immigration reforms.

“The meeting is very healthy for our people especially in the media where there is a lot of negative publicity about us not doing anything to correct the situation,” he said.

“This is the only opportunity to present a true picture to Cohen and other representatives to the 902 talks,” Manglona added.

Although he expects the federalization plan to crop up in the meeting with the legislature, the Senate president maintained the informal discussion is one chance “to get to know each other as well as what issues to lay on the table” in future consultation.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente acknowledged, however, that labor and immigration issues can be best addressed by the CNMI 902 team in its meeting with the U.S. delegation.

“Our meeting will be an opportunity for both sides, not only for Mr. Cohen, to hear from the legislature here (and) to hear from the administration of the U.S. government about their positions of some of these issues that should be in the 902 discussion,” he told in a separate interview.

Cohen, who arrived last night, begins the consultation talks today with the local panel led Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan. The team also includes three members from the legislature: Manglona, Benavente and Tinian Sen. Joaquin Adriano.