By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

THE group “Our Commonwealth” sent a petition signed by over 300 individuals to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and other members of the Congress, asking the federal government to consult the CNMI before passing measures that affect the islands, including the federalization of local minimum wage and immigration laws.
The petition was sent in time for the Feb. 8 oversight hearing on the CNMI by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources chaired by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.
“We had a cover letter, our Jan. 26 rally letter, and the signatures of over 300 individuals,” said Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, one of the organizers of Our Commonwealth.
He said they sent electronic copies of the letter and petition to Bingaman and four other members of the U.S. House and Senate.
“We also sent copies of a DVD which features our Jan. 26 rally. Those DVDs were hand carried to them,” said Ogumoro-Uludong.
In their open letter to the U.S. Congress, “Our Commonwealth” said the people of the CNMI “deserve consideration by and consultation with those who enact laws that impact our unique culture and economy.”
“We are not similar to California or New York or Washington, D.C. or even Hawaii or Guam, and it would be unfair to attempt a comparison…Our way of life is necessarily and vastly different than that in the 50 states. Think about this before making changes at a pace that will destroy what viable economy remains,” said Our Commonwealth.
Our Commonwealth staged a rally on Jan. 26 at American Memorial Park attended by over 200 people. In that rally, they were also told to prepare for the Feb. 24 visit to Saipan of two U.S. Senate staffers who will be here to gather more input for a bill that would federalize the CNMI immigration system.
“Understand the successes and failures of our past, as well as the challenges of our future. If you believe we have failed ourselves in the past, we ask that you do not fail us in the present,” Our Commonwealth told the members of the U.S. Congress.
It added, “Please do not attempt to fix what you may perceive as our failures without a real understanding, a careful study, and a meaningful dialogue with us, the people of the Commonwealth.”
Ogumoro-Uludong added that certain individuals are planning to stage a similar peaceful rally on Tinian late this month.
A delegation from the CNMI led by Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez will be attending the Feb. 8 hearing in Washington, D.C.