GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Thursday announced that President Donald Trump has responded to his request to continue the consultations pursuant to Section 902 of the Covenant between the CNMI and the federal government.
In a letter received this week, President Trump named Scott J. Cameron, senior advisor to the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, as his representative to the consultations.
“In response to the request from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and pursuant to section 902 of the Covenant to Establish the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States, I am pleased to inform you that I have designated Scott J. Cameron, Senior Advisor to the Secretary exercising the delegated authorities of the Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Insular and International Affairs), as my special representative for purposes of continuing the consultations that take place between the CNMI and the Federal Government,” President Trump said in his letter to Governor Palacios.
“I trust that this section 902 consultation will be a vehicle for addressing the critical issues raised by the CNMI,” President Trump added.
“On behalf of the people of the CNMI, I extend my utmost gratitude to President Trump for his timely and favorable response to the CNMI’s request,” Governor Palacios said.
He also emphasized that, as in all interactions with the federal government, the CNMI will work with its federal counterparts with a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, and most importantly, with a dedicated focus on advancing the standards of living for all CNMI residents.
The governor added that the aim of the 902 consultations, which began late last year, have been focused on three priority areas: 1) financial assistance initiatives that are discussed in Article 7 of the Covenant; 2) tourism and transportation issues; and, 3) access to skilled labor in the CNMI.
The Covenant outlines the rights, obligations, and relationship between the CNMI and the United States and established the CNMI as a self-governing Commonwealth of the United States. The agreement granted U.S. citizenship and applied certain federal laws with specific exemptions.
Section 902 of the Covenant, which was approved by the United States Congress (and subsequently by President Gerald Ford) as U.S. Public Law 94-241, states that: “The Government of the United States and the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands will consult regularly on all matters affecting the relationship between them…the President of the United States and the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands will designate special representatives to meet and to consider in good faith such issues affecting the relationship between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States… Special representatives will be appointed in any event to consider and to make recommendations regarding future multi-year financial assistance to the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to Section 701, to meet at least one year prior to the expiration of every period of such financial assistance.”
