House Legislative Initiative 17-7, if passed by three-fourths of the members of both houses of the Legislature and ratified by voters, will repeal the CNMI Constitution’s Article 12 which allows only people of Northern Marianas Descent to own land in the commonwealth.
This is similar to Senate Legislative Initiative 17-10 .
Deleon Guerrero in an interview yesterday said he drafted his own initiative because he thought the Senate proposal will not necessarily repeal Article 12 right away.
But he said this was clarified by the Senate legal counsel who explained that S.L.I 17-10 will amend the Constitution as soon as the people ratifies it.
Deleon Guerrero said he will still introduce H.L.I 17-7. If the Senate and the House pass S.L.I 17-10, he will withdraw his initiative.
During the public hearing held on Rota last Friday, 11 of the 12 people who attended supported S.L.I 17-10, according to Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, chairman of the Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development & Programs.
Commonwealth Ports Authority board member Barry Toves said Article 12 prevents locals from getting the best value for their property.
Because of the land alienation rule, local people can only sell their land to fellow locals at a low price when they can get better offers from other interested investors.
Torres plans to hold another public hearing on Tinian next week and on Saipan the following week.
