Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is also awaiting the U.S. Department of the Interior’s recommendations regarding the CNMI’s guest workers.
Interior is mandated to submit a report to the U.S. Congress in June 2010.
The governor “looks forward to receiving the…report mandated by U.S. law and to continued deliberations on the best policy for the CNMI following the release of this report,” Reyes told the Variety in an e-mail.
He said the Fitial administration’s position on the issue depends on the wishes of the indigenous people.
“Any significant policy change must be fully supported by CNMI citizens and fully justified by a comprehensive study outlining all of the relevant public policy considerations in the best interests of the CNMI,” Reyes added.
Authorities said there are currently about 16,000 foreign workers in the CNMI.
Allen Stayman, a senior staffer of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, earlier said that once the federalization law takes effect, the guest workers will be either deported or given permanent residency.
But he said a third option — something in between — is also possible.
He did not elaborate.
