Teno: Talks with U.S. officials focused on aid

Speaking to reporters for the first time in two weeks, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio disclosed he had raised several local concerns to federal officials during a recent economic meeting in Washington, chief among which was the U.S. financial assistance to U.S. insular areas.

The local chief executive attended the meeting early this month under President Clinton’s Interagency Group on Insular Area (IGIA), which drew participation of leaders from Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Island as well as senior White House officials.

At the top of Mr. Tenorio’s agenda at the meeting was the Compact impact funds that have yet been released to the CNMI to help defray the costs of hosting thousands of citizens from the Freely Associated States.

The island government has been asking Washington to reimburse over $28 million in expenditures it claimed were used up in providing free education, medical, housing and other assistance to FAS people residing in the Northern Marianas.

“We informed them about the CNMI’s needs, such as the Compact impact and the mitigation plan” regarding the proposed Marpi landfill, Mr. Tenorio told in an interview.

The Commonwealth has been awaiting federal approval of the new dumpsite, which is situated near a habitat of endangered bird species, to begin construction of the landfill and closure of the Puerto Rico dump.

According to Mr. Tenorio, he had told federal officials that the present dumping ground has become a health hazard to Saipan residents and an eyesore that could hurt the tourism industry.

CNMI officials have offered one of the Northern Islands as mitigation site for endangered bird species at risk of being displaced by the Marpi landfill in order to expedite the project.

But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division had turned down the proposal and refused to grant permit to the island government, delaying further the project.

The Office of Insular Affairs, the lead agency for the economic meeting, had described it a “success,” noting that it was the first high-level meeting involving the four U.S. territories and the executive branch.

According to OIA Director Ferdinand Aranza, the discussion was an important step which would result in issue resolution and would dramatically increased the level of participation in federal programs by the islands.

President Clinton created the IGIA on August 9, 1999 to give guidance on policy concerning the four islands, OIA said. (Benhur C. Saladores)