“It’s a shame this commission has not been active for so long,” Calvo said. “The last big push we had was for the Draft Commonwealth Act. The time is ripe for us to choose our political status. Together, we will move this process forward and bring the right of self-determination to our people once and for all.”
Calvo has appointed Dr. Lisa Natividad, one of the two at-large members he must appoint, according to law. He is preparing to convene the commission shortly, according to a press release from his office.
By law, Calvo will serve as the commission chairman. Sen. Rory Respicio, in his capacity as the senator with oversight on federal affairs, will be the vice chairman.
The remaining membership of the 11-member commission is chosen as follows: Speaker Judi Won Pat may appoint a member or herself; the legislative minority may appoint one of its members; Mayors Council President Mayor Melissa Savares may appoint one member of the council or herself; Task Force for Statehood Chairman former Sen. Eddie Duenas may appoint one member of his task force or himself; Task Force for Free Association Chairman Jose Garrido may appoint one member of his task force or himself; Task Force for Independence Chairwoman Trini Torres may appoint one member of her task force or herself; and Youth Congress Speaker Andrew Orsini may appoint one member of the Youth Congress or himself.
The commission now has three members, the governor, Sen. Respicio and Dr. Natividad, and the governor wants to fill the slots as quickly as possible. On Thursday, the governor sent letters to the statutory appointers requesting their immediate appointments to the commission.
“Five hundred years ago, we were a people who led our own destiny,” Calvo said. “I want it to be said to our children and grandchildren in history books, that this generation took control of our destiny again. Let’s not waste a single moment. Let’s end five centuries of colonialism and decide for ourselves the direction we want to take.”
The governor included in the budget a $240,000 appropriation to the Commission on Decolonization for the next fiscal year.
He will be requesting federal officials to release promised federal funding for a political status education campaign during his visit to Washington, D.C. this week.
