Senate Bill 16-37 proposed to reserve public lands in Chalan Famalao’an and Pina on Tinian.
In his two-page veto message, the governor said the measure empowers Tinian’s elected officials to decide on the disposition of public lands on the island, which contradicts what was written in the CNMI Constitution.
“Approving this measure violates Public Law 15-2, but more importantly, it violates the CNMI Constitution. Therefore, approval would be meaningless as it would be unenforceable,” the governor said.
He added: “More importantly, the constitution designates the management of public lands to the executive branch…. This measure would change that constitutional mandate as it will allow the mayor, municipal council and the local delegation to share management authority, which is in direct violation of the Constitution.”
In 2006, the governor signed the law abolishing the board-governed autonomous government agency, Marianas Public Lands Authority.
The Department of Public Lands, which is under the executive branch, replaced MPLA.
Since then, DPL has been the official government agency responsible for the administration and disposition of public lands in the Northern Marianas.
