Moreover, he said, the CNMI government will have the authority to make decisions about who can participate in any economic and commercial activities in the area.
“We’re the ones who make those decisions and that was not there before nor was that was ever a part what the proponents were saying before,” Joyner told Variety.
He said the CNMI government played a big role in shaping the presidential designation.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s support for the monument, he added, was not a last-minute decision, saying that there were negotiations taking place since the proposal was first announced.
“The skill of our governor shows itself with the result,” he added. “There were many telephone calls, e-mails, visit from place to place, many staff talking together, draft and redrafts over the times — it was laborious, it was not easy and although I’m a government staff I compliment him for his skill in negotiation because he focused on the needs of our people. This was not a last-minute or eleventh hour decision.”
He said the presidential proclamation reflected the negotiations “between persons of goodwill — concessions, and compromises were made.”
The initial design of the monument proposal, Joyner said, was unacceptable.
“But after our protests and subsequent negotiations, the CNMI was able to get what it need,” he said.
“We were able to do that without giving up control over the submerged lands, and right to fish in the area,” he added. “We have management authority over the area that was designated, an area considerably less in size than originally proposed. What was originally proposed was 200 miles of our Exclusive Economic Zone, but this was reduced to 50 miles, and that’s quite a concession, that’s in line with the CNMI’s goal — our people must be protected.”
He said the governor was able to address the concerns of the local people, including the local fishermen.
“Without those negotiations, without the governor’s leadership the CNMI would have lost,” Joyner said.
In the next two years, he added, “there will be no action except planning, deciding, writing, and appointing people to the five-person panel responsible for overseeing the implementation of the declaration.”
