Forum takes up status for long-term alien workers

The issue of granting resident status to long-term nonresident workers in the CNMI will be the subject of a forum that will be held tonight at the Monte Carlo, a bar located across Hopwood Junior High School, starting at 6:30pm.

The forum, called “Long-Term Resident Status: Issues and Possibilities for Change Under CNMI Law,” will feature four speakers who will discuss the issue with the audience.

Members of the Unity Movement organizers core group—Malou Barueco; Bonnie Sagana of the Dekada Movement; Conrad Ocampo; and Ernest Maicle of MOVER—said that tonight’s forum is open to the public.

“All interested foreign national workers, local workers and business people, representatives of the business community, local citizen action group members, and members of the general public, of all races and nationalities, are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion,” the group said.

The speakers are:

– Dekada Movement counsel Stephen C. Woodruff;

Governor’s legal counsel Deanne Siemer, who is actively involved in labor and immigration matters, PL 15-108, and the new labor regulations;

– CNMI Bar Association president Maya Kara, who is a former acting Attorney General, former governor’s legal counsel, former lieutenant governor’s legal counsel, and former House legal counsel; and

– Greg Cruz, president of TaoTao Tano.

Both Siemer and Kara emphasized that they are involved and will speak only for themselves, in their personal capacities, and not as representatives of the government, clients, or any special interest group.

Other speakers may be added, and there will be extensive opportunity for questions, answers, and general discussion.

“This forum is NOT about ‘federalization.’ It is NOT about minimum wage. It is NOT about Public Law 15-108. It is specifically recognized that all parties have their own views and positions on these topics, and agreed that all are free to advocate their positions outside the forum, but that, within the context of the forum, these issues will be put to the side and the focus will be exclusively on the question of long-term alien resident status,” the group said in a statement.

A minimum donation of $2 per person will be required at the door to cover the costs of use of the Monte Carlo facilities. The two-dollar donation entitles each person to one beverage from the house. Additional beverages may be purchased at usual Monte Carlo prices.

This is the third meeting on the long-term resident status public discussion initiative. The first preliminary, exploratory meeting, involving only a very small group, was held on March 11, 2008, in the conference room of Woodruff. The second meeting of 30 to 40 persons was on March 22, 2008, at the China House restaurant. [B][I](Saipan Tribune)[/I][/B]