Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor appears before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
THE U.S. representatives for the Covenant Section 902 talks with the CNMI have not been named yet by the White House, Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor told U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan on Wednesday, May 8, during a House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs hearing on President Joseph Biden’s fiscal year 2025 budget request for OIA.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios recently informed President Biden that the CNMI was initiating consultations with the U.S. as provided by Section 902 of the Covenant.
At the subcommittee hearing, Kilili said the CNMI economy has never recovered from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also informed Cantor about the recent decision of “one of our crown jewel hotels,” the Hyatt Regency Saipan, to permanently close.
In the 902 talks, Kilili said the CNMI governor wants to discuss direct financial assistance like what the U.S. Congress provides the government of American Samoa.
He said the governor, in addition, wants the U.S. to help in inviting tourists to the CNMI, which also needs more skilled labor so it “can put infrastructure dollars to work.”
Kilili asked Cantor, “Can you tell me where the administration stands on my governor’s request for consultations and whether you understand how dire the economic situation is in the CNMI?”
Cantor replied, “Yes, delegate, I am aware that Governor Palacios sent a letter to President Biden. I received a copy of the letter.”
She said she and Palacios spoke on the phone last week, and she told him that OIA was in “the process of waiting for the White House to determine who are the representatives going to be in this consultation. But we know that this is very important to the CNMI government.”
