Dr. Carlyle Corbin, an international adviser on governance and an expert on self-determination, was invited by former Guam Sen. Hope Cristobal to discuss decolonization plans for non-self governing territories at the University of Guam.
Cristobal, a Chamoru activist, arranged Corbin’s meeting with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, CNMI lawmakers and members of indigenous groups.
A former minister of state for external affairs of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Corbin discussed with Guam students and residents yesterday the self-determination process and proposed non-self governing plans for decolonization.
Former Speaker Pete R. Guerrero said he wants to hear Corbin’s opinion on the current issues the CNMI is facing with regards to its relationship with the U.S.
Guerrero expressed hope that Corbin will confirm that the Covenant does not meet the U.N. trusteeship agreement that mandated the U.S. to prepare the NMI for self-government.
He said the NMI people have not really achieved a self-governing status which was the goal of the U.N. when it allowed the U.S. to administer the islands.
The Covenant, which made the islands a self-governing U.S. commonwealth, was overwhelmingly ratified by NMI voters in 1975.
The subject that Corbin discussed on Guam, Guerrero said, is of great interest to the NMI people.
Hopefully, he said Corbin will be able to provide the CNMI government and its people some guidance on how to bring local issues to the international community with regards to their “sovereign rights.”
The issue of submerged lands, for example, is something that the CNMI’s indigenous people wish to bring up to the U.N., the former speaker said.
“I personally believe that the NMI people can bring to the international community the issue on submerged lands despite the U.S. court’s ruling,” he added.
Rep. Fredrick P. Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan, said Corbin’s visit will be very timely. Besides self-determination, the issue on submerged lands will be among the topics they want to discuss with Corbin.
Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said he is not going to attend the meeting with Corbin and discuss “self-determination.”
The NMI people, he said, “have already determined that we wanted to be part of the U.S.”
