Friends of the Monument on TV

The Friends of the Monument appeared on the John Gonzales' TV talk show, MP 96950, to discuss the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. Appearing on the show were Chairman Ignacio V Cabrera, local business leader David M. Sablan, small business owner and former Congressman Andrew S. Sablan, and former Congressman and chair of the Republican Party, Karl T. Reyes.

The hour long program is broken up into 7 separate Youtube videos. They appear here in sequence:

Uncle Karl and Dr. Jack in the Saipan Tribune

The Saipan Tribune carried a story today about the letters that Karl T Reyes and Dr. Jack Tenorio sent to the Senate in support of the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.

2 ConCon members back monument plan
By Agnes E. Donato
Reporter

Two former members of the Constitutional Convention have called on lawmakers to support the proposal designating the CNMI's northernmost three islands as a marine monument.

Karl T. Reyes and Joaquin Tenorio wrote separate letters to the Legislature stating that the proposed marine monument is in line with the constitutional provision for the protection of the islands of Uracus, Maug, and Asuncion.

The Constitution requires that the three islands, as well as Guguan, be “maintained as uninhabited places and used only for preservation.”

“We believed then, as I still do, that the highest and best use of the northern three islands is preservation of the flora and fauna,” Tenorio said.

For his part, Reyes said, “I urge you to support the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. It will fulfill the original intent of our Constitution and benefit generations of Chamorros and Carolinians to come.”

Both Reyes and Tenorio were members of the Constitutional Convention's Personal Rights and Natural Resources Committee, which had recommended that the islands should be set aside as nature reserves.

Uncle Karl's Letter to the Senate

Uncle Karl's letter was published in the Saipan Tribune today:

To Senate President Pete P. Reyes
16th Commonwealth Legislature

Article XIV, Section 2 of the Northern Marianas Constitution addresses two important concepts with respect to “Uninhabited Islands.” First, it restricts the use of Managaha Island for “cultural and recreational” purposes only. Second, it identifies four islands to be “maintained as uninhabited places and used only for preservation,” namely the islands of Maug, Uracas, Asuncion, Guguan.

During the Second Northern Marianas Constitutional Convention of 1985, the Committee on Personal Rights & Natural Resources, of which I was a member, found that the islands of Uracas and Asuncion, two of the three islands in the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, are volcanically active and are generally unsuitable for permanent habitation. The Committee found that in their “undisturbed state”, these islands have acquired a “unique flora and fauna” and are “well suited for preservation or sanctuary status.”

We also found that “in order to protect and preserve these unique biological characteristics, including the native wildlife and habitats, access to these islands must be controlled.”

Furthermore, we found that these islands warranted protections because they had not sustained “substantial environmental damage caused by feral pigs and goats.”

Finally, we found that “management or protection of fish could be addressed by an appropriate agency of the government if necessary.”

The arguments I have heard in the media against the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument all run counter to the intent of the writers of our beloved Constitution.

You have heard from that the current administration does not support the preservation of these northern islands. They support “sustainable use,” which conflicts with the Constitutional purpose to preserve these islands.

You have heard that if a monument were declared we would have to “ask permission” to go there. Our original intent in protecting those islands was for everyone to “ask permission.” That is the best way to protect and preserve their unique biological characteristics.

You have heard that there is no need to protect these islands because they are “so beautiful, so lush.” That is exactly why we intended to protect those islands in the first place. These islands are undisturbed and they are unique and they can serve as a source of population of wildlife to be used for restocking other islands where certain species, such as fruit bats and coconut crabs, have been depleted. They are also the last vestige of what the Marianas were like before the Spanish arrived.

Finally, you have heard that this is nothing more than another “federal takeover.” While our intent was to protect all the resources in the far north, we do not have jurisdiction or control over any of our surrounding waters. The Federal government has jurisdiction from the mean high water mark out to 200 nautical miles. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is the federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and NOAA Sanctuaries is the appropriate government agency for preservation of our marine resources, not NOAA Fisheries.

I have attached a copy of the “Report to the Convention by the Committee on Personal Rights & Natural Resources: Committee Recommendation No. 29” for your reference. It will help you understand our constitution better.

In closing, I urge you to support the proposed Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. It will fulfill the original intent of our constitution and benefit generations of Chamorros and Carolinians to come.

Si Yu'use Ma'ase for your time and consideration.

Karl T. Reyes
Friends of the Monument

Uncle Karl's Letter

Uncle Karl read his letter on the John Gonzales show last night.

Uncle Karl in the Marianas Variety

The Marianas Variety carried a story today about the letter that Uncle Karl wrote to the Legislature:

Ex-lawmaker urges Legislature to support marine monument proposal
Thursday, 18 September 2008
By Gemma Q. Casas - Variety News Staff

THE former chairman of the local Republican Party who served two terms in the House of Representatives is urging the Legislature to support the proposed Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, which he says is a project that will fulfill the mandates of the CNMI Constitution to protect the islands’ marine resources.

“It will…benefit generations of Chamorros and Carolinians to come,” said Karl T. Reyes in a letter to the presiding officers of the Legislature and Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.

The administration and the Legislature, as well as CNMI municipal officials, are opposed to the proposal.

Reyes said the proposal to designate the uninhabited islands of Maug, Asuncion and Uracas as a marine sanctuary will help restock the islands’ marine resources as well as certain species such as fruit bats and coconut crabs.

“You have heard that there is a need to protect these islands because they are ‘so beautiful, so lush.’ That is exactly why we intended to protect those islands in the first place. These islands are undisturbed and they are unique and can serve as a population of wildlife to be used for restocking other islands with certain species,” he said.

Reyes, a member of the 1985 Constitutional Convention committee on personal rights and natural resources, said Uracas and Asuncion — two of the three islands proposed to be declared a marine sanctuary — are active volcanic islands unsuitable for permanent habitation.

“Furthermore, we found that these islands warranted protections because they had not sustained “substantial environmental damage caused by feral pigs and goats,” he added.

The Legislature already adopted two joint resolutions urging President Bush to reject the proposal.

Most lawmakers and the Fitial administration fear that the CNMI stands to lose access to a 200-mile exclusive economic zone surrounding the waters of the three islands if the proposal is approved.

“The people of the CNMI have a strong affinity with these islands and its surrounding waters, and have a deep sense of its connection to the culture, traditions and the unique identity of their people,” House Joint Resolution 16-13 stated.

“A unilateral designation of this area as a marine monument under the Antiquities Act without the consent of the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would be an affront insult to the people, especially to the people of the CNMI,” it added.

Supporters of the project, however, said this is an opportunity for the CNMI to be known internationally about its environmental contribution to the world.

Friends on John Gonzales

Several Friends of the Monument appeared on the John Gonzales MP 96950 talk show this evening. Ignacio V Cabrera and David M Sablan sat on the first panel and Andrew S Salas and Karl T Reyes sat on the second.

The Friends appeared on the show to dispel some myths and to talk about their support and thier reasons behind their support.

The Friends are going to upload the entire show onto Youtube, so come back in a few days to watch the show.