In an interview, Torres, R-Saipan, said the Senate is now looking into land lease contracts that extended the deal “to a lifetime for $1” if Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution is repealed.
This is one of the pressing issues the Senate needs to resolve as it prepares for a series of public hearings that will start next week on Senate Legislative Initiative 17-10, Torres said.
It proposes to repeal the constitutional provisions that restrict land ownership to persons of Northern Marianas descent and limits land lease terms to 55 years.
S.L.I. 17-10 must be passed by the three-fourths vote of the members of each house present and voting. It doesn’t need the governor’s approval but it must be placed on the ballot to allow voters to ratify or reject it.
Torres said the contracts that anticipated the possible repeal of the Article 12 were made 15 to 20 years ago.
If the people decide to repeal Article 12, the lands under these contracts will basically be given away for just a dollar, he added.
“So we are looking at those contracts, and see if it would be sufficient enough to forego any additional negotiation once the initiative is ratified by the people,” Torres said, adding that the Senate wants to address the possible impact of such land lease contracts.
He said he understands there’s strong interest from both sides of the land alienation issue.
Asked if he favors its repeal, Torres said: “Article 12 is more than just my own feelings. It deals with families.”
Authored by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, S.L.I. 17-10 will repeal Sections 1 to 6 of the CNMI Constitution’s Article 12, thus repealing the current restrictions in land ownership.
“A lack of tourists, and the loss of business opportunities like the garment industry, means we look to new ways to ensure prosperity. Article 12 has served its purpose; our people are ready to continue the process of advancing as part of the global market place. But more than just a temporary fix, ending Article 12 is a recognition of the fact we are now a sophisticated people ready to handle the freedom and responsibility of disposing of our privately held property as we see fit,” the legislative initiative stated.
