Suspicion is warranted when the government tends to operate in the dark without the participation of the people, Govendo said.
He urged the media to investigate who among the landowners in Marpi would like development in the historic area, which is also one of the island’s main tourist attractions.
Govendo said he will ask the U.S. Department of the Interior “to do what has to be done” in connection with the request of the Friends of Marpi that the U.S. government look into the project.
The judge also urged the CNMI government and the Friends of Marpi “to seriously get together” to resolve the matter.
Assistant Attorney General Gilbert Brinbrich, who represented the CNMI government, said they “respect and will follow” the court’s order, and will “weigh [their] options.”
More details to follow.
