THE House of Representatives recently passed legislation authorizing the Marianas Public Land Authority, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Development Authority, to borrow $40 million which will be used to settle land compensation claims against the government.
H.B. 13-1’s author, House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao, R-Saipan, said there needs to be a law on promptly repaying individuals whose lands were acquired by eminent domain or other legal process. The current rate of repayment is “unacceptable,” he said.
In the past, land taking claims against the commonwealth were settled largely through an exchange of public lands, but the diminishing availability of public lands, coupled with other competing public land uses, “requires the establishment of a compensation program” to pay for the taking of private lands for public uses, such as road and ponding basin construction, Attao said.
The measure will be transmitted to the Senate for action.
