CREAM is proposing improved immigration status for guest workers who have been legally residing in the CNMI for at least 20 years.
Boni Sagana, Dekada president said, their group believes that nonresident workers who have been in the CNMI for at least five years deserve to get an improved immigration status.
He said CREAM’s proposal is contrary to the wishes of the nonresident guest workers.
“I hope they will understand the real sentiments of the guest workers,” Sagana said.
CREAM president Gus Loste said they are now collecting signatures for their proposal.
He declined to comment on Sagana’s position but invited guest workers to attend CREAM’s meeting on Saturday.
“If they wish to discuss this issue with us they can attend our weekly meeting on Saturday and voice their opinion,” Loste said.
Irene N. Tantiado, United Workers Movement, NMI president, is supporting CREAM’s proposal.
She said she has observed how Loste’s group work and “I don’t doubt their intentions.”
The 20-year limit proposal was discussed during a CREAM meeting she attended, Tantiado said.
She said she is convinced that the proposal will help guest workers.
“I may not agree [with the 20-year limit] but I believe that the bottom-line is that this will help,” she said.
Tantiado said her group is willing to work with CREAM on issues that will give long-term guest workers better immigration status.
She said nonresident workers need CREAM’s help because its members can influence the CNMI government.
“This is another reason for the nonresident groups to reunite,” she added.
She noted that CREAM endorsed the candidacy of Gregorio C. Sablan, who won the congressional delegate election last month.
