He said he did sign the petition but added that he did not expect the Friends of the Monuments — the group spearheading the signature campaign — to publish it in the newspaper.
Tudela said he also signed the letter to President Bush of the four CNMI’s mayors expressing opposition to the monument proposal.
“Somehow I put my name [on the monument petition] just to make these people happy because it’s hard for me to say yes or no to them,” Tudela told Variety, adding that monument advocates visited him many times and explained to him the “advantages” of the project.
At first, he said, he was impressed with the supposed benefits of the project, which was why he signed the petition.
But, he added, “my support is not from my heart — I thought at first it was very good.”
Tudela said he now wants more time to understand the supposed economic benefits of the project and how the proposal will affect the indigenous people.
According to the mayor, he will always support programs that will benefit everybody.
The proposal will designate the waters surrounding the northern islands of Maug, Uracas and Asuncion as a national marine monument.
