At Hopwood, marine monument plan sparks debate

Eighth graders at Hopwood Junior High School held a spirited debate Friday on the controversial White House proposal to establish a national marine monument in the CNMI’s northern waters.

Supporters of the monument—which has become one of the most hotly contested local issues of the day—have long said the 110,000 square miles of ocean encompassing the islands of Maug, Ascuncion and Uracus are a biodiversity hotspot, home to scores of unique species in need of the heightened federal protection the plan could provide. Opponents, however, have said it would trample on the CNMI’s autonomy and that local environmental rules can protect the waters at issue.

On Friday, Hopwood’s students had a chance to put the debate into their own words, an exercise teacher Kimberly Vaillancourt said aims to build their critical thinking and analytical skills.

Backing the monument on economic grounds was Christiane Baquiano, who pointed to a recent study on the projected amount of tourism dollars and federal revenue it could draw to the CNMI.

“It’s no secret that the CNMI is in dire economic straits,” she said, adding that the monument could create new jobs.

Charlene Lizardo, also speaking in favor of the proposal, said that current federal laws give the White House the authority it needs to establish the monument and that contrary to some claims, local fishermen have nothing to fear when it comes to the restrictions the plan would impose.

“It’s not the local fishermen that will be denied, but foreign encroachment,” she said, noting that the northern islands are too far for small fishing boats to reach but well within reach of foreign vessels. The monument, she added, could take “the CNMI a step closer to a new era of ocean stewardship.”

The students speaking in opposition to the monument countered by saying any prospective benefits from the proposal are undefined while its potential costs are easily calculated. On the economic study cited by environmentalists in favor of the plan, Allene Evallar said nothing is certain.

“There is no guarantee that any of these things will happen,” she said, later noting that any boost in tourism to the northern islands as a result of the monument could also increase pollution from human activity there.

Kevin Guinto pointed to problems he sees with the proposal, suggesting that it represents an intrusion by federal authorities on the CNMI’s rights to self-government, similar to the pending takeover of local immigration rules.

Later in the day, students delivered a packet of hand-written comments giving their opinions on the issue to staff at American Memorial Park. The comments are now bound for the White House.

Federal authorities will hold a public forum on the monument proposal at the Fiesta Resort on Saipan Monday, Oct. 20, beginning at 5:30pm.