GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios told reporters on Tuesday that the 902 talks with the U.S. will start today, Wednesday, at the federal courthouse.
Section 902 of the Covenant allows the CNMI and the U.S. to designate special representatives to meet and consider in good faith the issues affecting the relationship between the two governments.
“We will be having talks … and we will be issuing press releases and statements,” Palacios said. “It’s going to be a two-day meeting. There are a lot of sensitive issues that need to be worked out so I don’t want to get ahead of myself. To give respect and courtesy to the federal side when they show up, we will have these conversations on how to approach [the discussions], but be assured we will give you the full story,” he added.
Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor was designated by President Joe Biden as his special representative for the Covenant Section 902 consultations with the CNMI government.
“I don’t want to talk to anybody that is not the president’s representative. And this will be an official discussion,” Palacios said.
In his letter to Biden in April, Palacios said he wanted the 902 talks to focus on the following issues:
–Direct financial assistance to the CNMI under Section 702 of the Covenant.
–Tourism and transportation infrastructure.
–Access to skilled labor.
“We’re going to focus on those [issues],” Palacios said on Tuesday. “We don’t have a lot of time for this discussion. We only have two months to come up with an agreement,” he added.
The governor has designated Mike Sablan, Triple J vice president, to be his 902 talks lead person.
The other members of the governor’s team are former Superior Court Associate Judge Wesley Bogdan; former Rep. Tina Sablan, the governor’s special assistant for climate policy and planning; Glen Hunter, the governor’s special assistant for the CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office; Frankie Eliptico, Northern Marianas College vice president for administration and advancement; and Tinian businessman Philip Mendiola-Long.
Palacios said Rota and the Legislature will be represented on his 902 team, which also includes Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero.
