Cing, a Democrat who backed the Covenant Party in the last elections, said although the “exit poll” is not a bad idea, it appears to be designed to discredit Sablan, who is running as an independent.
The Fitial administration, which opposes he Interior Department’s improved status recommendation for guest workers, is backing the candidacy of former Rep. Joseph N. Camacho.
Cing said the “survey” on Interior’s recommendation will only distract voters from the real issues facing the CNMI.
Sablan also opposes Interior’s recommendation, but Cing said the ruling Covenant Party has been accusing the congressman of being “soft” on the issue.
Cing said he agrees that there was a lack consultation with the leaders of the commonwealth when Interior was still drafting its report.
But, the former senator added, the people of the commonwealth should also realize that the Covenant allows the extension of federal immigration law to the CNMI.
This should have been considered before the people voted for the Covenant, he said.
The Covenant, which was also passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Gerald R. Ford, made the islands part of the U.S. It was ratified by 79 percent of NMI voters on June 17, 1975. Voter turnout was 95 percent.
Cing said the “ball” was “dropped” during the Covenant negotiations.
“So who actually made the mistake?” he asked. “When the NMI people voted for the Covenant, they made the mistake.”
