The minority bloc in the House of Representatives is opposing the passage of two initiatives that aim to extend land leases up to 75 years.<\/p>\n
House minority leader Rep. Arnold I. Palacios said his group does not support Senate Legislative Initiative 14-3, which seeks to extend land leases of private land from 55 years to 75 years, as well as House Legislative Initiative 14-10, which extends public land leases from 25 years to 50 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe might as well sell it if we extend it to 75 years,\u201d quipped Palacios yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said efforts to extend land leases are a way of disenfranchising the indigenous people in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re opposing it because we don\u2019t believe it\u2019s necessary to dilute the land alienation provision in the Constitution. This is indigenous land, very limited, very scarce, very valuable and we can\u2019t afford to play with it,\u201d said Palacios. <\/p>\n
Citing land alienation as reason for the CNMI\u2019s poor economic showing is a lame excuse, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a lame disguise to eventually disenfranchise the indigenous people. As elected officials, we are here to protect the rights of our indigenous community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
SLI 14-3, authored by Rota Sen. Diego Songao, amends Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution.<\/p>\n
It said that extending land lease period from 55 to 75 years \u201cwill revitalize major investments projects in the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch change will also revive the real estate market, benefiting landowners, real estate brokers, and investors,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
It further said that longer lease period will facilitate banking and other lending institutions in funding major development loans, mortgages, and enhance business opportunities as a whole.<\/p>\n
Meantime, HLI 14-10, introduced by House Committee on Commerce chair Rep. Martin Ada, aims to amend Article 11 of the Constitution to increase the leasehold interests in public lands from 25 to 50 years.<\/p>\n
Ada, in the proposal, cited that government leases such as Hyatt Regency and Grand Hotel would be expiring soon and the government \u201cwill be left with the dilemma of disposing of such developed properties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ada believes that the government is not capable or competent to manage such properties.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccordingly, it would be in the best interest of the Commonwealth to increase the term of leases of public lands so as to allow the proper people or entities to manage such developed properties or establishments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said that extending it to 50 years would further create stability within the local real estate market and generate revenues for the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
If voted by three-fourths of the members of each house, the initiatives would be placed on the ballot for the people to ratify at the next general election.<\/p>\n
SLI 14-3 has passed the Senate and is now up for discussion at the House during a session today. The House, meantime, has adopted HLI 14-10.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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