Palacios on DPL, MOS quarry dispute: I will not intervene

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who has been playing the role of mediator for last month in disputes between different entities, has decided he will not intervene in the ongoing dispute between the Municipality of Saipan and Department of Public Lands regarding quarry materials.

In an interview with Palacios last Monday, he shared that he will not intervene in the dispute between Saipan Mayor Ramon B. “RB” Camacho and Department of Public Lands Secretary Teresita Santos over quarry materials.

“I can’t continue to be the referee for this. I already told DPL they need to figure out [how] to work with the mayor. This is just an unfortunate distraction that could readily be avoided if we all just act like adults. They have to figure this out. They have to put aside personal animosities,” he said.

Previously, Camacho wrote a letter to Palacios requesting intervention in a conflict between his office and DPL.

Camacho, in his letter, raised an ongoing issue regarding the types and quantity of coral base materials that may be extracted from permitted Article XI (CNMI Constitution) lands and given to the CNMI government at no charge.

The types and quantity of coral base materials that may be extracted as a public benefit from a quarry are controlled by the language of the Temporary Occupancy Agreement issued by DPL for that quarry.

According to Camacho, Santos has not honored and enforced the TOA that allows the Municipality of Saipan to secure quarry materials needed for road repairs.

Arnold I. Palacios