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Controversial lease on land
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Posted on Nov 29 2006
This is an open letter to the public, in reference to a proposed lease of public land situated in Chalan Piao, on the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, listed as lot #024-I03, consisting of approximately 419 square meters. The deadline for comments is set for Dec. 1, 2006.
Please allow me to give a brief history of the above lot (which was originally part of what is now five lots).
I first stepped on that property in 1968. A year later, after typhoon Jean devastated the island, the U.S. government gave aid and we built a typhoon-proof house. That house has since been dismantled (after withstanding many other forces of nature), although the foundation and slab are still there.
In the ’70s, the grounds immediately north of ours were leased to a block manufacturer to mine the sand. I wondered then, “Why do they keep taking the sand on our side of the property?”
In the ’80s, a foreign investor leased the (former) sand mine and erected (what appeared to be) a single-story commercial building. Unfortunately for the businessman, despite hiring a local surveying company, he built his complex beyond his border and encroached on my family’s land.
In the ’90s, my parents filed necessary paperworks to finally get what was rightfully theirs, only to find that the single piece of property had been divided into different parts!
It is now 2006. Awarding the investor this “lease” will do two things: 1) deprive my family of their rights to the land 2) condone all the previous wrongdoings.
I suggest that the “lease” of Lot # 024-I03 be postponed and offer the following:
– Hold all proceedings in the above matter. Interested parties meet and discuss a fair and just solution.
– All discussions and final solution be open to the public.
I appeal to the leaders of our Commmonwealth to take action on this matter with this in mind: “The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.”
In closing, let us never forget that there are two laws of the land: man’s law and God’s law.
[B]Joseph Cepeda Reyes[/B] [I]via e-mail[/I]
