Lizama is quoted as saying, in the Wednesday issue of the Variety, that he hoped monument supporters would postpone their activities until the U.S. Congress settles “the submerged lands issue.”
These are not mutually exclusive activities!
The presidential action, which — if it takes place — could give the CNMI co-management rights well beyond 3 or 12 miles of submerged lands — and will not affect what Congress may or may not choose to do.
It does not make sense to give up such an offer of co-management rights direct from the president of the United States in hopes that the large, contentious, slow-moving 400+ members of the U.S. Congress may — at some unknown date in the future — grant the tiny, remote, largely unknown islands of the CNMI control over what most likely will not be more than three, or at the most 12, miles of ocean.
RUTH L. TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
