The governor, who is scheduled to leave for Washington, D.C. later this month, believes the U.S. is partly responsible for the CNMI’s economic woes.
“Either that or we’re going to demand for compensation,” said the governor referring to the yet to be introduced legislation to amend the federalization law, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, or U.S.P.L. 110-229. “There were opportunities lost and the opportunity to earn income was lost.”
He added, “If they will not help us on amending and clarifying the intent of Public Law 110-229, then, I think it’s only fair, since they contributed to the demise of our local economy, that our godfather, Uncle Sam, should bear the responsibility of being a parent to the CNMI. I am not guaranteeing anything but make no mistake, I will demand [compensation].”
The governor will ask Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan to introduce the bill amending the federalization law.
Fitial said there is still time to persuade lawmakers in Congress to amend the federalization law as the grandfather provision acknowledging all permits issued by the CNMI government won’t end until Nov. 27, 2011.
The governor filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Columbia to stop the federalization law from being implemented on the islands as scheduled on Nov. 28, 2009.
But Federal Judge Paul Friedman dismissed the lawsuit, citing national security interest.
The governor said he will no longer resort to litigation to resolve his administration’s conflict with the federal government regarding labor and immigration issues.
“I don’t think a lawsuit is advisable. Instead of litigation, I will resort to consultation and negotiation but we will be strong,” he told the Variety in an interview on Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to publish the final rules that will govern the presence of thousands of foreign workers under the CNMI-only nonimmigrant transitional worker program that will end in Dec. 2014.
