I AM writing to register my two cents worth of comment on behalf of the National Chamorro Association of the Mariana Islands Inc., a non for profit organization whose mission is to protect, promote, preserve and perpetuate the language, culture and the interest and rights of all Chamorros near and far.
Madam Speaker, I find it very disturbing to read in the news about the U.S. Congress immediate imposition of the federal minimum wage. What is going on Speaker Pelosi?
Just a year ago, the U.S. fish and wildlife, had imposed almost + of the island of Rota as designated conservation area which covers some of the homesteading zone. Our homesteaders cannot even build their home because of the Aga (Marianas Crow). Is the Marianas Crow more important than the livelihood of the native Chamorros? And now, the imposition of the federal minimum wage. Can you imagine how much the goods and services will cost especially on Rota where it is 31 percent higher than that of Saipan? It will definitely harm the native Chamorros’ ability to survive the rising cost of food and medicine in the CNMI. And this is especially true for those living in Rota and Tinian.
The native Chamorros have been ruled for more than 600 years by different foreign powers. The Chamorros have never been free as people to govern themselves and to decide on their own and best interest. From the Spanish administration to the Germans and from Germans to the Japanese and now the U.S. We thought that having a “Common” “wealth” status in political relationship with the U.S.. will allow our people to govern themselves freely and from within. But as I read the news lately, this is not the case.
We are a Commonwealth of the NMI in political union with the United States of America. Not economic union. Not educational union. Not social union. And certainly not a cultural union. We are NOT a territory of the United States of America. We have a mutual political agreement with the U.S. called the Covenant. This agreement is the basis for our political existence with the United States. Mutual consent constitutes two entities’ acceptance or non acceptance for that matter. Can the U.S. Congress unilaterally impose the federal minimum wage in the CNMI without mutual consent provided via the Covenant Section 902? Maybe the minimum wage ought to be discussed by our covenant negotiators at negotiating table.
Furthermore, we are only a Commonwealth and not a territory or an unincorporated territory of the U.S., there’s still a question that must be discussed mutually via the Covenant Section 902. The point is that we are still in search of the ultimate political relationship with the United States of America. Maybe in 25 years, we can be a “state” along with Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Or our people may choose to be an independent nation. But for now, we are in the process of achieving self governing. And self governing means independence.
In closing, I humbly request your consideration Speaker Pelosi and all the esteemed members of the U.S. Congress to halt the applicability of federal minimum wage and allow CNMI government some degree of self governance and independence.
Thank you yan Si Yu’us Ma asse.’

GLENN H. MANGLONA (AMAGA’)
Igua, Rota