Teno vetoes propose conservation area
Saying he was disappointed to disapprove a measure to designate Managaha Island and its surrounding water as a Marine Conservation Act (HB 11-500), Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Monday two issues must first be resolved before he can sign the bill into law.
The first one was the section about the Superintendent’s duties and responsibilities that raise separation of power issues. That section gives the Superintendent the power to oversee the operations, maintenance, and administration of the conservation area. He is also authorized to hire, terminate and provide for training of
Conservation Officers. The bill placed the Superintendent within the Division of Fish and Wildlife, which is under the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
The second concern of the governor is with respect to reassigning of funds under Public Law 11-64 regarding the landing fees for Managaha Islands from a number of public service programs to Managaha research items.
“These are financial and legal issues raised by (Section 9) that must be addressed before this measure can be signed into law,” the governor’s letter stated. “Many of the CNMI Government agencies support the intention of this measure. I have instructed the legal counsel from my office to work with members of the Legislature to address the remaining issues so that this measure can be signed into law.”
The governor also disapproved a local bill (HB 11-26) that would authorize certain residents of Saipan and Northern Islands to obtain identification cards from their respective mayor’s office. The governor said he has concerns about section that states that all fees collected for the issuance of a resident identification card are to be acted in the fund and “continually appropriated” to the mayor’s office, who may expend such funds for specific purposes without any compliance with the CNMI appropriation laws.
The governor urged the Saipan Delegation to address this concern so that the inconvenience confronting certain residents who do not possess a driver’s license or other identification card may be alleviated.
