The Jan. 10 deadline for the “Justice of the Nonresidents in the Northern Marianas” campaign has been extended to the end of this month, according to Pilipino Contract Workers Association president Jun Concillado, who said they are still seeking more signatures from contract workers.
“We have exceeded the target of collecting 5,000 signatures but we are still soliciting more to make a stronger voice,” Concillado said.
As of Tuesday night, Concillado said they had collected 400 additional signatures on Saipan, 400 on Rota and 300 on Tinian.
He said the signatures will be submitted to add to the 4,600 electronic and written signatures already submitted to Florida-based human rights activist Wendy Doromal, who initiated the petition on Nov. 14 last year.
To come up with the additional signatures, Concillado said they had to go on a house to house campaign and meet with contract workers at the Sabalu market in Susupe, the Tuesday market at the fishing base and the Thursday street market in Garapan.
They also left signatures sheets at stores and restaurants where contract workers can conveniently sign them.
In an e-mail, Doromal said the petition will remain online until the end of the month.
“I am pleased with the response and was especially heartened to see so many signatures from residents and U.S. citizens who support status for the nonresidents,” the former Rota teacher said.
She said many of the comments online stress the need to keep families together and to “recognize decades of work by devoted and contributing guest workers.”
“Some comments that eloquently describe the situation of the long-term guest workers will surely touch the hearts of officials who read them, just as the letters from the guest workers, the nonresidents and their children have over the last two years,” Doromal said.
She said she will deliver the petitions to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. next month.
The petition is addressed to President Obama, members of the U.S. Congress, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
Signature sheets are available at Fiesta Pilipino by Juvy’s restaurant in Susupe, Hanmi Hardware, Modern School Supply, Labtech, and Juvy’s on the ground floor Marianas Business Plaza.
For more information, go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell-a-friend/5925296, call Concillado at 287-0191, Rabby Syed at 285-3306 or Ronnie Doca at 285-9255.
