Michael Kiyoshi collected signatures for two initiative petitions authored by Hofschneider on Saturday at Price Costco.
He has already gathered 450 signatures but most of them were for the other initiative that proposes to limit the number of House members from 20 to 17.
“Majority of the people are hesitant in signing the land lease initiative because they consider 75 years as too long,” Kiyoshi said.
A constitutional amendment proposed by a popular initiative has to be signed by at least 50 percent of the persons qualified to vote in the commonwealth and at least 25 percent of the persons qualified to vote on the three main islands.
An amendment proposed by popular initiative is ratified if it is approved by a majority of the votes cast and at least two-thirds of the votes cast in two of the three main islands.
“We’re targeting at least 5,000 signatures,” Kiyoshi said, adding that they have to submit the signed petitions to the Attorney General’s Office next month.
Kiyoshi is also conducting a house-to-house campaign to discuss with residents the importance of the initiatives offered by Hofschneider, R-Saipan.
On Rota, Ind. Rep. Victor Hocog is collecting signatures for the two initiative petitions.
Kiyoshi is “still optimistic” that they will collect the required signatures for the land lease initiative.
This week, a house-to-house campaign will be conducted in Kagman and on Capitol Hills.
Hofschneider, for his part, will appear on television to discuss his proposals.
According to Tinian resident Matthew Masga, who signed the land lease petition, allowing the extension of lease terms will help revive the CNMI’s ailing economy.
“I am pro-business and our people should also support it because long-term investments will benefit us here in the CNMI. The longer the investment, the longer the economic stimulus for us,” Masga said.
