Angelo Villagomez, CNMI coordinator of the Pew Environment Group, which backs the monument proposal, yesterday said Bush will listen to the sentiments of CNMI leaders, particularly those who are against designating the northern islands of Uracus, Maug and Asuncion as a marine monument.
Bush will discuss with his cabinet and the Council on Environmental Quality the plan to keep 115,000 square miles of the Northern Marianas off limits to commercial fishing and mineral exploration.
Villagomez said the recent AP news report on Bush’s plan only shows that the CNMI is getting media attention.
“It’s great,” he added.
According to AP, Diane Regas, the ocean program director of the Environmental Defense Fund, said they expect “the president will move forward on protecting these places sometime in the fall.”
But AP added that “it is unclear if Bush will designate these new areas as monuments, or use another executive mechanism that would allow limited fishing and other activities.”
Joaquin Villagomez, who opposes the proposal, said Bush should not limit his consultation with his cabinet members.
“It is just fair if he comes here and consults the CNMI government,” Joaquiin Villagomez said, adding that before the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands was declared a marine monument there was an extensive consultation with the Hawaii state government.
He said the CNMI is part of the U.S. and should be treated fairly by the U.S. president.
In Hawaii, he added, “they conducted six years of evaluations and consultations before coming up with the decision.”
For his part, Angelo Villagomez said his group will continue their educational campaign in the CNMI to ensure that all residents will be informed about the proposal’s benefits.
Most of the CNMI’s top leaders, including the governor and lawmakers, are opposed to the proposal “at this time.”
