Edith Deleon Guerrero
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios has asked Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero to be part of the CNMI team that will hold Covenant Section 902 consultations with the U.S. government.
In his letter to Deleon Guerrero, the governor said, “I would be honored if you, or your designee” would join the CNMI team, which will also include an official of the House of Representatives.
The governor said during the series of 902 consultations in 2016 in Washington D.C., the CNMI and Hawaii, he, as then-Senate president, represented the CNMI Senate.
According to Section 902 of the Covenant, the CNMI and U.S. governments can designate special representatives to meet and consider in good faith such issues affecting the relationship between the CNMI and the U.S., and to make a report and recommendations.
For this round of consultations, the governor said the CNMI wants to discuss three issues with the U.S.:
1) Direct financial assistance under Section 702 of the Covenant.
2) Tourism and transportation infrastructure.
3) Access to skilled labor.
“We look forward to a response from the White House appointing a special representative so that the 902 consultation process can begin. My administration is ready to work with the U.S. in furtherance of our mutual goal to improve the lives of the people of the CNMI, consistent with our Covenant,” the governor told the Senate president.
In her reply to the governor, Deleon Guerrero said, “I am deeply honored by the invitation, and I humbly accept and look forward to a team that will be cohesive and harmonious in presenting the CNMI’s plans to redefine and redirect all efforts for a better economy, enhancement of the tourism industry, and expanded and fortified infrastructure and a healthy local workforce.”
She said as a former CNMI labor secretary, she sees herself sharing “foreseeable solutions to our…need for efficient and adequate manpower.”
She said she is willing to “share her visions that will carry the CNMI in meeting the challenges that we will certainly encounter in the years to come.”
In October 2023, the Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 23-5 urging Governor Palacios and President Joe Biden to hold Section 902 consultations.
Authored by Deleon Guerrero, the joint resolution said the 902 talks should focus on immigration, workforce, economic and transportation challenges as well as the military expansion that the CNMI is facing.
