Rep. Joseph C. Reyes, R-Saipan, said the CNMI’s economic uncertainties will be compounded by the implementation of the federalization law in June.
Reyes called on the governor to take “immediate action.”
But Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr., in an interview yesterday, said the governor “tried 902 talks already with [the federal government] and those talks failed. 902 talks have rarely, if ever, produced any meaningful results for the CNMI.”
He added “We must place a greater emphasis on our delegate [to Congress] now.”
Representative Reyes said “now that they will formalize our union with the U.S. government, I see no reason for the CNMI’s exclusion from the $850 billion economic bailout for the states.”
He said the 902 talks may help newly elected Congressional Delegate Gregorio C. Sablan, Ind.-MP, in his efforts to secure federal assistance for the islands.
Section 902 of the Covenant, which made the islands part of the U.S., allows the federal and commonwealth governments to “consult regularly on all matters affecting the relationship between them.”
These consultations are known as 902 talks.
According to Representative Reyes, the governor’s 902 representative should work closely with Sablan and House Committee on U.S. and Foreign Relations Chairman Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan and a former CNMI 902 panelist.
“In order for us to further improve ourselves especially economically, we also need to work with other [insular areas] to give us one big voice in the U.S. Congress,” Representative Reyes said.
The CNMI, he added, can work with Guam and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures in coming up with a comprehensive economic package plan that will be presented to the federal government.
“The U.S. government plays a big role in the national defense of all these…territories and working together as a region will bring us better rewards and benefits,” the lawmaker said.
“We need to have a comprehensive plan…and it’s urgent. We may start this by holding a Micronesian economic summit…. If the U.S. government can spend $1 billion on the war in Iraq, I think our request here is very minimal,” he added.
