Local woes need local solutions, U.S. panel told

The CNMI Legislature yesterday lobbied visiting U.S. lawmakers against move that will threaten self-rule provided under the Covenant, including a proposal seeking to slash federal funds for various capital improvement projects on the island.

Legislative leaders also prodded U.S. House Resources Committee chair Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and other members of the panel to support a non-voting delegate for the CNMI in the Congress and to increase the number of American investments here.

Likewise, they expressed hope the visit will enhance cooperation between both sides as well as provide a clearer picture for U.S. legislators on the conditions in the Northern Marianas in light of relentless attacks in the past two months.

“We are confident that this delegation will take an objective look at the real issues affecting our islands and the people who live here,” said Senate President Paul A. Manglona in his speech during a meeting with the U.S. delegation at the Hyatt.

“We hope that you will have a chance to see the positive aspects of life on our islands and share some of these with your colleagues back in Washington,” he added.

Young and seven members of his committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. insular areas, arrived yesterday from Guam for a three-day stay on the island in the third leg of a tour of Micronesia.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente expressed hope on the positive turnout of the visit, saying the labor and immigration reforms implemented by the Tenorio administration are the measures recommended by the committee.

“We agree with you that the problems we face in the CNMI are local problems deserving local solutions,” he told in his speech. “(Y)our commitment to this principle will be strengthened by the reforms that we are making and will continue to make.”

Young’s visit is considered crucial by island leaders in the wake of fresh attempts by Washington to strip local authority on immigration, minimum wage and customs — powers delegated by the Covenant that established the commonwealth government in 1978.

CIP cut: While their luncheon meeting with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate had no agenda for discussion, the legislature lashed out at the 51 percent cut in CIP funding to the CNMI being proposed by the Clinton administration.

The move came on the heels of the failed 902 consultation talks last month with White House’s special emissary Edward B. Cohen who vowed to push a federal takeover legislation in the Congress.

According to Manglona, the reduction is being done while the Department of the Interior budget for FY 2000 — from which the CNMI federal funds come — will increase by $800 million.

It is also being proposed when the island government has completed the CIP master plan with the DOI assistance, involving massive infrastructure development here at a cost of $154 million using federal aid and matching local funds.

“It is very troubling that the (DOI) apparently is politicizing the federal budget process just because of the CNMI’s opposing views regarding the handling of our local garment industry, alien labor and other matters,” Manglona said.

He also slammed growing “political and economic” pressure on the CNMI, such as the recent $1 billion lawsuits filed against Saipan garment manufacturers, U.S. buyers and retailers which, according to the senator, is “unjustified and unfair”, but still a part of the continuous attack on the CNMI.

“This type of notoriety has cast a dark shadow over our islands, a dark shadow which we have been working very hard to get out from underneath,” Manglona added.

Benavente, on the other hand, asked support for the non-voting delegate so that “someday we, as members of the American political family, will be sitting inside our family House on Capitol Hill, and not be outside looking in.”

Although the meeting was limited due to time constraint, Senate Floor leader Pete P. Reyes said he hopes that Young and other members of the committee will determine the “facts” about the island, including ongoing reforms largely ignored by the federal government.

“We have to allow them the opportunity to find facts,” he told in an interview after the meeting, “and let’s hope that we have done our homework well, we have addressed the problems to the satisfaction of the committee.”