21 Feb 2012

Tinian mayor urges US military to use leased Tinian land or give it up

1:05 pm on 21 February 2012

The mayor of Tinian in the Northern Marianas, Ramon Dela Cruz, says the United States Department of Defense should either use or give up its lease on the island.

He says this would allow the local government to come up with activities that would stimulate the island's economy.

The US military presently leases two-thirds of the vacant land on Tinian.

Mr Dela Cruz says it is only fair that the federal agency uses the lease.

Otherwise, he says the land should be handed back to the Tinian municipality for subsistence or commercial farming.

The governor, Benigno Fitial, has recommended that the US military use Tinian as an alternative site for an emergency airfield for the large base it is to develop on Guam.