Palau seeks dialog on FAS migration problem

Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura has invited House Federal and Foreign Relations Committee chair Rep. Melvin Faisao and Speaker Diego T. Benavente to visit the country to discuss further a legislation that will restrict the stay of Freely Associated States citizens in the CNMI.

The meeting will be a follow-up to the recent discussion between Nakamura’s chief of staff and CNMI lawmakers regarding the measure pending with the House of Representatives.

“The proposed bill does have profound impacts on Palauan citizens residing in the CNMI and the opportunity given us to discuss it with you was most appreciated,” said Nakamura in a letter to Faisao.

Faisao, sponsor of House Bill 11-294 or the FAS Habitual Residency Act, has yet to set a date for his visit, although he has expressed plan to meet with leaders of neighboring islands in an effort to clarify provisions of the proposal.

While CNMI agencies and departments have overwhelmingly backed the measure, FAS governments have lashed back at the proposal as these restrictions would discriminate against their nationals.

Faisao maintained the Legislature would not want to strain relations with its neighbors by passing the bill without hearing their side. Three public hearings conducted by a House joint panel in recent weeks have also drummed up support from CNMI residents.

In a previous letter to the committee, the president of Palau has asked the CNMI government to mount a strong lobbying campaign to demand payment from Washington, instead of changing the policy.

The island government, together with Guam and Hawaii, has urged the central government to reimburse them the costs of hosting thousands of FAS nationals who have been granted public housing, medical care, free schooling and other benefits extended only to their residents.

Under the proposal, the government will set up a monitoring scheme to keep track of FAS nationals eligible to stay on the island who must either work or attend school full-time.

This will amend the existing open migration policy provided under the Compact of Free Association which has allowed their citizens to enter the CNMI or other US territories without restriction.

A recommendation from the panel is expected to come out by this month for deliberation by lawmakers before voting on the bill. Benhur C. Saladores