She said she was informed by Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz about the effort to award 244 Rota agricultural homestead lots.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Honolulu, Hawaii is now in the process of drafting the memorandum of agreement that will facilitate the awarding of the homestead lots.
“Our homesteaders have waited decades for the release of their lots. They have significantly invested, farmed and maintained their lots — it has been long overdue,” she told Variety.
Due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife concerns, the agricultural homestead lots have been put on hold.
Santos, Ind.-Rota, said it is “imperative that these lots are released to augment the subsistence living of the residents.”
She noted the “depleting financial resources and high costs of goods and commodities particularly on the island of Rota.”
Santos said she was informed that the draft MOA is expected to be completed by the end of August.
All the stakeholders, DLNR, the Rota mayor’s office, the legislative delegation and the Department of Public Lands have been asked to submit their comments regarding the draft MOA, she said.
Dr. Loyal Merhoff and Dr. Early Champbell of U.S. Fish and Wildlife are expected to return to the CNMI on Sept. 9 to meet with the stakeholders and review and finalize the MOA.
Santos said it is anticipated that if all stakeholders stipulated to the terms and conditions contained in the MOA, the awarding of the agricultural homestead lots will follow shortly.
