9 Apr 2012

Sablan critical of CNMI governor's lease challenge

10:10 am on 9 April 2012

The Northern Marianas delegate to the US Congress says the governor Benigno Fitial may have gone too far in asking for a renegotiation of the CNMI's 100-year Tinian land lease agreement with the US military.

Gregorio Kilili Sablan has described the governor's bid as a tongue-in-cheek at a time when preparation for the training on Tinian of over 200 US Marines from Japan is in full swing.

Two-thirds of Tinian land is leased by the US Department of Defense to renegotiate the whole lease deal in light of the progress made by Tinian in relations with the military.

The governor wants a new deal after telling Washington that none of the promised development on the island has materialised in the past 35 years.