The law states in part: “If the United States must acquire any interest in real property not transferred to it under this Covenant, it will follow the policy of seeking to acquire only minimum area necessary to accomplish the public purpose for which the real property is required….”
It further states, “The United States upon prior written notice to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands, acquire for public purposes in accordance with federal laws and procedures any interest in real property in the Northern Mariana Islands by purchase, lease, exchange, gift or otherwise under such terms and conditions as may be negotiated by the parties.”
It also states, “No interest in real property will be acquired unless duly authorized by the Congress of the United States and appropriations are available therefore.”
The solicitation of views established by President Bush, in my view acknowledges the spirit and letter of Section 806 of the Covenant Agreement. Pew must respect this provision of law and the ancestral rights of the indigenous people in the disposition of what it rightfully owns under the umbrella of their rights to greater degree of self-government abundantly provided for under the Covenant.
We ask for nothing less, after all, the preservation of islands and surrounding waters up north are sufficiently protected under the CNMI Constitution. There is no need to pile-up more than our share of federal impositions.
You know something, a wise Palauan leader once told me, “You can take our women out of Palau, but you will never take Palau out of our women.” Whatever that means, I sincerely hope we all sit down and think about it for a moment. We don’t just get in to somebody’s house and do what we want. Whatever happens to MUTUAL respect and MUTUAL consent? Ouch! You’re stepping on my toes.
CANDY B. TAMAN
Former member
House of Representatives
