Cantor: 902 talks productive

The discussions between the CNMI and U.S. governments pursuant to Section 902 of the Covenant have been productive and is expected to be extended.

Yesterday, local media representatives were given an opportunity to meet the panelists of the 902 consultations that are currently being held in the CNMI. The talks are led by assistant secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs Carmen Cantor and Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.

The panelists chosen to represent the CNMI include Commonwealth Economic Development Authority’s Michael Sablan, Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), former Superior Court judge Wesley Bogdan, Tinian Chamber of Commerce’s Phillip Mendiola-Long, Sen. Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota), Matthew Adams, economist Matthew Deleon Guerrero, Tina Sablan, Department of Labor Secretary Leila Staffler, and Finance Secretary Tracy Norita.

Meanwhile, federal representatives include special assistant to assistant secretary Abdiel Razo, associate director of Policy Basil Ottley, assistant solicitor at U.S. Department of the Interior Tim Murphy, and budget officer for the Office of Insular Affairs Jonathan Dunn.

In a quick statement from Cantor, she said it’s a pleasure and honor to engage in discussion with CNMI stakeholders.

“It is a great pleasure and honor to join you hear in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands as the United States’ special representative to engage in the important work of the 902 consultations as provided in Article 7 of the Covenant. We received the CNMI’s position paper regarding economic development and assistance. I commend the team for its clarity in discussing the CNMI’s fiscal and economic challenges and its thoughtful treatment of the opportunity to structure a more sustainable future,” she said.

As far as discussions go, she shared that they have been productive.

“We are very grateful for the very productive discussions that we had and we look forward to more discussions,” she said.

In a statement from Palacios, he shared that discussions have been focused on urgent matters but as the talks continue, he was unable to go into more detail as of press time.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding as the consultations pursuant to Section 902 of the Covenant continues. During the first days of consultation meetings, we have had openness, and willingness to focus our dialogues on urgent items that are directly aligned with the provisions of the Covenant aimed at achieving a progressively higher standard of living for the people of the Commonwealth,” he said.

“We must emphasize that these discussions will not end today. We will continue meeting and working with our federal partners after today to pick up the dialogue where we leave off today and work toward an agreement that will be mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial to both the CNMI and the federal government,” he added.

Palacios notes that he thanks federal partners for coming out to see, firsthand, the challenges faced in the CNMI.

“We’re also thankful that the first consultation meeting is being held in the CNMI so that the first federal team is able to see, firsthand, some of the challenges and the opportunities that exist in the Commonwealth. The team did a brief visit to various locations in Saipan early [yesterday] morning,” he said.