James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council for Environmental Quality, an office of the White House is one of the highest ranking members of the federal administration to visit our islands in nearly 20 years.
Mr. Connaughton, thank you for visiting our islands and thank you for taking the time to talk to our elected leaders and for speaking one-on-one with our people. I ask our people to consider this gesture as a chance to help to heal the CNMI’s relationship with the federal government after heated controversies over minimum wage and immigration laws.
Mr. Connaughton, your invitation to our people to engage in open dialogue about our interests and listen to our concerns is a public acknowledgment of respect for our indigenous cultural values and traditions. I hope that based on this, we can begin to develop mutual trust and respect.
ANDREW S. SALAS
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan
