Department of Public Lands Secretary Oscar M. Babauta and Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio told Variety in separate interviews that they believe Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was trying to attract Chinese investments.
Fitial, who was attending the U.S.-China forum in Beijing, China, was quoted by Bloomberg Businessweek as telling the participants: “If you are interested, I am offering these islands to China,” referring to the the mostly uninhabited volcanic islands of Anatahan, Sarigan, Pagan, Alamagan, Agrigan, Guguan, Asuncion, Maug and Parallon de Pajaros.
Only Pagan, Alamagan and Agrigan used to be inhabited by more than a hundred locals but most of them now reside on Saipan, including their mayor.
Fitial was speaking before the members of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and some members of the U.S. National Governors Association: Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.
The purpose of the forum held from Oct. 18 to 20 was to bring the two countries together at the governors’ level.
The governor was also quoted as saying, “Lease these islands so that I can have enough financial resources to provide for more full employment for my people.”
Babauta said DPL, which handles leases of public lands, is engaged in several discussions regarding potential economic development in the Northern Islands. Right now, he added, they are reviewing proposals for mining projects .
Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, also expressed support for Fitial’s efforts to secure new investments.
“What good are those islands if we cannot make money out of them?” the former governor asked, referring to the Northern Islands.
However, he added, if the presence of Chinese investors will jeopardize U.S. military operations there, “I’m sure the federal government will step in.”
He said Chinese investors can lease some of the Northern islands as long as it won’t affect U.S. national security.
In an email, Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan said the governor was making reference to the availability of mass public lands in the undeveloped and uninhabited Northern Islands.
The U.S.-China Governors Dialogue, he said included nearly 400 government and business representatives to discuss potential investment and job creation opportunities. So in this regard, Fitial took the opportunity to promote “the CNMI’s greatest resource — availability of land — for large scale investments like agriculture, retirement communities, timeshare homes, and electronics manufacturing to both large business entities and or public-private partnerships or cooperatives.”
Demapan said no commitments have been made this time although several provincial leaders and business representatives have expressed interests to conduct trade missions to the CNMI and explore the possibility of investing in the commonwealth.
