In an attempt to move forward, I am OK with the final version of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. In reality, the best we could probably hope for was that the White House would listen to our concerns. Remarkably, they did!
With the unified regional opposition from all the Micronesian leaders against both the approach in which the national marine monument process was being pursued and the Pew monument proposal, the White House was compelled to sit down and actually address the concerns raised by the Marianas islanders. I wish to congratulate those CNMI government individuals who worked directly with the CEQ/White House staff on developing a totally new monument plan that was unique to the needs of the Mariana people while addressing the bigger picture of environmental protection. We accomplished what we set out to do; dismantle the Pew monument proposal.
Of course, we could not have been successful without the continuing moral support from the CNMI silent majority — those islanders who do not write letters-to-the-editor or blog. With your encouragement, all of us who actively participated in opposing the Pew monument proposal were able to maintain our focus and direction throughout this arduous campaign. I/we appreciate your support. Thank you.
We have a monument. I hope we can embrace it and try to make it work for the CNMI.
JOHN GOURLEY
Navy Hill, Saipan
