CNMI congressional candidates clash over US military build-up, deep sea mining
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands congressional candidates clashed over whether the territory is getting enough economic benefit from the growing US military presence.
The race for the CNMI congressional seat saw candidates Galvin Deleon Guerrero and Kimberlyn King-Hinds clash over the impact of the growing US military presence in the territory. Deleon Guerrero criticized the current arrangement, calling it a "raw deal" for the CNMI, and argued that it should result in more jobs and investments for local residents.
He insisted that national security and economic security go hand in hand, demanding more direct benefits for the local community, such as hiring CNMI workers and awarding contracts to local businesses.
King-Hinds disagreed, stating that relations between the CNMI and the US military had improved significantly. She pointed to various efforts to connect local businesses and workers with military opportunities, including industry days, job fairs, and employer outreach programs. However, she acknowledged that recovering jurisdiction over waters surrounding the CNMI for activities such as deep sea mining may not be achievable in the near term.
Instead, King-Hinds proposed legislation to enforce environmental and economic safeguards on any mining activity, preventing the federal government from waiving royalties and requiring companies to post bonds for environmental restoration and consultation with the CNMI government. Deleon Guerrero dismissed this as merely accepting the status quo, insisting that the CNMI should have greater control over decisions regarding deep-sea mining.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
