Highlighting the historic role of the CNMI

The Commonwealth needs to attract the attention of U.S. Congress. As your delegate, I pledge to submit a resolution in the first 100 days in office concerning the U.S military use of the Mariana Islands in the past, present, and in our future.

I am committed:

1. To appeal for what is rightfully ours. We will not beg for federal handouts. As your elected delegate, I will fight for what is rightfully ours.

Our island was used to assemble, fly, and drop the most lethal weapon ever used on mankind—the atomic bombs (aka Fat Man and Little Boy), which ended World War II and placed the United States of America in history as the most respected nation in the world. It was through this factor that contributed to the success and legacy of the United States, and for this, the CNMI deserves its share of the pie.

2. To appeal for an equitable price tag for the lease of the island of Tinian. Under the Covenant agreement, two-thirds of the land on Tinian was leased by the military for 50 years at $1 per hectare with option to extend the lease for another 50 years at the same price. This is a lease for 100 years at a fixed price of one dollar per hectare, a price tag that I believe is far below the market value of our property.

We need to revisit the Covenant and discuss Article VIII Section 802 and 803 for reconsideration. I do understand that the agreement between the United States and the Commonwealth under the Covenant is binding, but I also believe that the U.S. Congress has the power to overturn issue(s) for reconsideration, should we convince them beyond reasonable doubt that the U.S. had taken advantage of the situation (being the only prospective lessee at the time) and made no genuine effort to determine the best market price for our property. I sincerely believe that I can make a compelling argument before the U.S. Congress that the CNMI people got the short end of the stick under this lease agreement. Furthermore, as a Democrat representing the CNMI in a Democratic-majority Congress, the CNMI has a better chance of being guaranteed a final passage vote because the sponsor is from the majority party. As we all know, in the U.S. Congress the majority party rules.

Moreover, this is not the legacy that the U.S. wants to leave behind as the protector and defender under the trusteeship agreement. Tinian remains a vital defense site until this day and clearly the island will remain a significant strategic area for years to come as well. This is a matter that should be examined and scrutinized carefully.

3. The Rock Island of Aguiguan (aka Goat Island) was used for target purposes during the Navy and Trust Territory time without due compensation. Aguiguan was almost completely demolished as result of continuous bombing and today serves the CNMI of no purpose.

My fellow citizen of the Commonwealth should I succeed in this election for the U.S. Congress, I will convince the U.S. Congress that the islands, particularly Tinian, is a vital defense site and has a significant place in U.S. military success during World War II. We contributed to that success and we deserve the attention of the U.S. Congress. If elected, I will translate this commitment into millions of dollars, and persuade the federal government to once again open the Naval hospital in Guam and the Tripler hospital in Hawaii for our low-income families and for those who cannot afford or don’t have medical insurance as additional payment for the use of the island of Tinian.