FOR HOSTING FAS CITIZENS CNMI to press for reimbursement
The government will continue to press Washington to reimburse expenditures amounting to millions of dollars incurred from hosting Freely Associated States citizens in the CNMI, according to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
“They have made a commitment that territories and states will get Compact-Impact money if hosting these people is really costing us. This issue should be taken into consideration seriously and help the territories,” he told reporters.
Tenorio was reacting to a statement made by Office of Insular Affairs Director Ferdinand Aranza to local media during his visit last week that the federal government has yet to set aside funds to pay the CNMI.
The OIA chief, however, said Washington “ought to think seriously” about the reimbursement to the Commonwealth as Guam expects to receive soon a partial payment for its expenses on FAS nationals residing on the island.
According to the governor, they will submit a record on how much the island government has spent so far in providing critical services like housing, education and medical benefits to thousands of FAS citizens living here.
“It’s costing us a lot of money,” he said. So far, an estimated $28 million of local funds have been spent by the government over the past two years alone in accommodating nearly 5,000 FAS citizens.
But a single penny from the federal government has yet to reach CNMI’s pocket despite its promise to defray the costs under the Compact of Free Association forged between Washington and FSM, Marshalls and Palau.
The agreement has allowed their citizens to enter freely into any U.S. soil. But the accord, due to expire in 2001 for FSM and Marshalls, has come under close scrutiny from wealthier Pacific islands like Guam, Hawaii and the CNMI after the federal government reneged on its commitment.
Tenorio was uncertain whether his government should participate in the re-negotiations which will begin next month between former OIA director Allen P. Stayman and the Micronesian leaders. Guam is expected to be an observer during the process.
“I don’t know whether they are going to include the CNMI as part of the U.S. negotiating panel. I will leave it up to them what they want to do,” he said.
