Rabby Syed, UWM president, said all nonresident workers who want a voice in securing their future and the future of their families should attend the hearings.
The hearing on Rota is scheduled for Feb. 18, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Rota Round House in Songsong; on Saipan, Feb. 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the multi-purpose center in Susupe; and on Tinian, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tinian Elementary School in San Jose.
On Saipan, Syed encouraged all nonresidents to assemble at the Kilili Beach at 4 p.m. before proceeding to the multi-purpose center in Susupe for the public hearing.
Syed encouraged all nonresident workers to bring their written testimony expressing their personal views on their status.
Copies will be sent to the U.S. Congress, he added.
Those who cannot attend the hearing can submit their testimony to UWM, he said. Call Syed at 888-4025 for more information.
He said they will send the testimonies to U.S.-based human rights advocate Wendy Doromal who will distribute copies to U.S. congressional committees and federal officials.
“The draft Senate report denied and ignored the labor abuses that thousands of us suffered under CNMI labor and immigration system,” Syed said.
Certain rights belong to every human being as outlined in the United National Declaration of Human Rights, he added.
He said certain constitutional rights belong to every person as long as they are on U.S. soil.
“We have the right to be paid for every hour that we worked, but under the CNMI labor and immigration system many of us were denied this fundamental right. A right delayed is a right denied,” Syed said.
He said the draft Senate report ignored the written testimony submitted by their group which included the petition signed by over 7,000 persons asking for the granting green cards and a pathway to U.S. citizenship to long-term CNMI guest workers.
He said they will again submit the petition along with additional signatures and testimonies.
“I want all alien workers and community members who support alien workers to speak out. We don’t support CNMI Senate draft recommendation. We continue to ask for U.S. citizenship or a pathway to citizenship which is a green card,” Syed said.
According to the Senate Committee on Federal Relations and Independent Agencies, which is conducting the public hearings, written comments and testimony may be submitted to the office of Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, at the legislative building on Capital Hill prior to the hearings.
Oral testimony may be presented during the hearings.
Those who wish to present oral testimony may inform the committee no later than 24 hours prior to the public hearing.
