They said Sablan is pursuing the welfare and best interests of “the whole CNMI.”
They said they issued the statement to clarify the designation of human rights advocate Wendy Doromal as the representative of the United Workers Movement, NMI and the Pilipino Contract Workers Association.
Yesterday, the guest worker leaders met to come up with a unified position on the hearing to be conducted by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and their plan to hold a peaceful assembly on May 18 in Garapan
“There is no dispute among groups and organizations representing aliens and workers in the CNMI as to who should represent them,” according to the statement signed by the leaders of the Dekada Movement, the Chinese community, the Unity Working Group, the Coalition of United Workers, NMI, the Human Dignity Movement, Pilcowa, the United Workers Movement, NMI and the Multisectoral Overseas Workers Movement.
They said Doromal, a former Rota teacher, does not represent any particular group or organization, but “she represents all groups and organizations that have worker and foreign national interests at heart.”
“Wendy has an important message to bring to the subcommittee and should be heard but as an advocate, an activist, a spokesperson for all and no one in particular,” they said.
In an e-mail to Variety, Doromal, who is now based in Florida, said that she is not a witness for the May 19 hearing.
However, she added she will attend and submit written testimony which includes letters from guest workers, nonresidents, U.S. citizen children of nonresidents, and U.S. citizens who support the goals of the guest workers.
Doromal said the letters are from nonresidents on Saipan, Tinian and Rota, and some of them belong to worker groups.
“I hope that many people will step up to represent the guest workers and their groups, and write letters and testimony on their behalf to submit to the hearing in Washington,” Doromal said.
As for the May 18 assembly in Garapan, Boni Sagana of Dekada encouraged guest workers on Rota and Tinian to hold small gatherings and display of placards and banners in their designated areas of assembly.
He said they will hold a three-day peaceful assembly in front of the TSL Plaza where the Homeland Security Office is located.
