Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said the administration invited lawmakers to meet with Domenech and other visiting federal officials this morning.
Palacios said the administration’s agenda has been set and he hopes that includes Saipan’s power crisis.
“We have to very candid with him about our situation. We have to see to what extent Interior can assist the CNMI with its challenges, especially in terms of a stable power supply,” Palacios told Variety.
Domenech’s entourage includes U.S. Office of Insular Affairs Director Nikolao Pula, deputy assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs of the White House Janet Creighton, Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tim Petty, U.S. Geological Service senior research scientist Tom Murray and Interior’s emergency coordinator Larry Broun.
They plan to visit Pagan, an uninhabited volcanic island about 75 miles north of Saipan.
Interior recently awarded the CNMI a grant to explore the island’s potential to produce geothermal energy.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the governor is pleased with the visit of the federal officials.
He said the governor will try to inform them about the challenges facing the CNMI, including issues about immigration ahead of the extension of federal immigration law to the islands starting next year.
In a separate interview, Finance Secretary Eloy Inos said he will try to discuss pressing CNMI financial issues with the visiting federal officials.
Inos and Reyes said the governor will allow press coverage after their meeting with Domenech.
Domenech replaced David B. Cohen as Interior’s deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs in January.
Cohen now works with the Davis Wright Tremaine law firm and co-heads DWT Pacific, the first unified trans-Pacific legal and business advisory team.
