MANY thanks to all who sent suggestions and comments for the topics and format of upcoming public forums.
Future public forums will now focus on specific topics that have been identified in the initial forums to allow for more in-depth discussion of the issues, and to allow participants to prepare and conduct research ahead of time.
Please come prepared with information and ideas to share; questions to ask of each other; and concrete, tangible solutions to propose for any problems we identify.
These upcoming forums are different from the first three in that they are focused on a specific topic, and will begin with a brief, impartial presentation of the issue to provide historical background and help set the stage for fruitful discussion.
We are pleased to announce that the next forum will be on:
IMMIGRATION AND LABOR — Thursday, March 29; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Northern Marianas College; Room D-1.
Possible subtopics include the proposed extension of federal immigration and minimum wage laws to the CNMI; concerns regarding CNMI’s access to tourists; concerns about the CNMI’s guest worker program; the Nonresident Workers Act and proposed amendments; enfranchisement of nonresidents; changing demographics in the CNMI; etc.
Suggested readings include:
The Covenant, available online at http://www.cnmilaw.org/covenant.htm .
Testimonies presented at the U.S. Senate hearing on February 8, available online at: http://energy.senate.gov/public/ (click on the “Hearing Schedule/Hearing List” tab and go to the February 2007 hearings list)
The Nonresident Workers Act of 1983, PL 3-66, available online at: http://www.cnmileg.gov.mp/documents/PublicLaws/3rd/PL3-066.pdf
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (H.R. 2), available online at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00002:
The CNMI government’s position on the minimum wage, also available online at: http://www.thecnmi.com/index.php?option=com_docman& task=cat_view&gid=20&Itemid=38
Other documents and commentary will be posted on www.thecnmi.com over the next few days, including proposed amendments to the Nonresident Workers Act and excerpts from “An Honorable Accord: The Covenant between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States,” by Howard Willens and Deanne Siemer. If anyone has suggestions for other documents to post on the Web site, please e-mail me at tinasablan@gmail.com.
The forum on immigration and labor will be followed by forums on:
REFORMING THE LEGISLATURE — Thursday, April 19; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; (venue to be announced)
Possible subtopics include proposed public initiatives to reduce the size of the Legislature; finance reform (including a reduction in stipends and discretionary funds); to create a part-time Legislature; to reapportion the precincts; etc.
THE ELECTION PROCESS; Thursday, May 10; 6:30-8:30 p.m.; (venue to be announced)
Possible subtopics include proposed popular and legislative initiatives requiring gubernatorial and Washington representative run-off elections; voter registration; process for declaring candidacies; desired qualifications for political candidates; a review of a questionnaire currently being prepared for all candidates; etc.
Proposed issues for the forums to follow include: public health and healthcare; education; public utilities; and government reorganization and accountability.
If anyone is interested in assisting the forums mentioned above, or would like to suggest additional forums, please e-mail me at tinasablan@gmail.com. Also, if you need further information or have other ideas to share, please let me know.
Thanks very much and we hope to see you at the public forums.

TINA SABLAN
www.thecnmi.com
Navy Hill, Saipan