She believes that the submerged lands were taken away from the people of the commonwealth.
The U.S. District Court for the NMI ruled in 2003 that the lands belonged to the U.S. The CNMI filed an appeal but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the ruling in 2005.
Last year, the CNMI’s delegate, Gregorio C. Sablan, introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress to “convey to the Northern Marianas the submerged lands out to three miles from the shoreline of each of the islands.”
Sablan has indicated that he will re-introduce the bill in this new Congress.
Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, drafted a House joint resolution urging Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to once again sit with federal officials and bring up, among other topics, the issue of submerged lands in the CNMI.
She did not divulge all details of the draft resolution but said she will introduce it soon.
She is also preparing another House joint resolution urging Fitial to hold 902 talks with the federal government.
Section 902 of the Covenant, which made the islands part of the U.S., allows the CNMI and federal governments to discuss issues regarding their relationship. This is called the 902 talks.
Ogumoro said her resolution will mention more specific issues that the CNMI should bring up with the federal government and these include the ownership of submerged lands and waters surrounding the CNMI.
In her draft resolution, Ogumoro said the federal government, without proper consultation with the CNMI people, exercised its authority over the islands by taking unilateral actions that went against the Covenant.
Aside from taking away submerged lands, Ogumoro said the federal government also took over the local immigration and labor system, designated the northernmost islands a national marine monument and allowed the Department of the Interior to submit a report to the U.S. Congress recommending improved status for guest workers.
Ogumoro said such exercise of authority affects the relationship between the local and the federal governments and seriously violates the spirit of the Covenant.
She said it is necessary to move ahead with the 902 talks.
