The following meeting announcement was placed as a comment to an earlier post, but we thought that it should be highlighted for those wishing to attend:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
The following members of the Unity Movement organizers core group, Malou Barueco; Bonnie Sagana of the Dekada Movement; Conrad Ocampo; and Ernest Maicle of MOVER wish to inform the public that there will be a forum on “Long-Term Resident Status: Issues and Possibilities for Change Under CNMI Law” at the Monte Carlo (across from Hopwood Jr. High School) at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, April 2, 2008.All interested foreign national workers, local workers and business people, representatives of the business community, local citizen action group members, and members of the general public, of all races and nationalities, are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion.
Anticipated speakers are Dekada Movement counsel Stephen C. Woodruff; well-known attorney Deanne Siemer (best known to workers and long-term alien residents of the CNMI, often controversially, as someone actively involved in labor and immigration matters, PL 15-108, and the new labor regulations); Maya Kara (president of the CNMI Bar Association, former acting Attorney General, former governor’s legal counsel, former lieutenant governor’s legal counsel, and former House Legal Counsel); and Greg Cruz, president of TaoTao Tano. Both Ms. Siemer and Ms. Kara emphasize that they are involved and will speak only for themselves, in their personal capacities, and not as representatives of the government, clients, or any special interest group.
Other speakers may be added, and there will be extensive opportunity for questions, answers, and general discussion.
This forum is NOT about “federalization.” It is NOT about minimum wage. It is NOT about PL 15-108. It is specifically recognized that all parties have their own views and positions on these topics, and agreed that all are free to advocate their positions outside the forum, but that, within the context of the forum, these issues will be put to the side and the focus will be exclusively on the question of long-term alien resident status.
A minimum donation of two dollars ($2.00) per person will be required at the door to cover the costs of use of the Monte Carlo facilities. The two dollar donation also entitles each person to one beverage from the house. Additional beverages may be purchased at usual Monte Carlo prices.
This is the third meeting on the Long-Term Resident status public discussion initiative. The first preliminary, exploratory meeting, involving only a very small group, was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in the conference room of Atty. Steve Woodruff. The second meeting of 30 to 40 persons was Saturday, March 22, 2008, at the China House restaurant.
28 comments:
I believed this is a significant discussion especially to those longterm guestworkers that will be qualified on this concept.It becomes reality the untired effort to labor contributions in this community will be rewarded.On my personal opinion a guestworker who work here in CNMI for more than 10years is recommendable and deserving to be qualified and of course acceptable to local community.
We should lauded those people behind this initiative includes Deane Siemer,Maya Kara,Atty. Woodruff,Dekada,Movers,Unity Core Group and other individuals who are believing this opportunity to recognized and considered longterm guestworkers contributions.
I'm enjoying working and staying here in CNMI for almost 20 years so if govt. will give us a chance to grant this,it will be greatful to me and to my family.
At last after long years the "this door is open"...........
Translation: Meeting to con long-term non-residents, after bashing them over the head, making them to feel like they haven't contributed, trying to screw them over under federal legislation and then trying to continue to forward the slave-wage system.
Have a wonderful meeting.
"There's a sucker born every minute" - P.T. Barnum
Barnum had it all figured.
What does the Fitial administration support? Didn't they try to get green card chances taken out of the fed bill? The fed bill states that status will be recommended within 2 years and rumors say it will be within 6 months.
2 authors of PL-15-108, Senate legal council during the Abramoff era, and several illegals...nice.
like the slavemaster rounding up all of the runaway slaves? or more like the old cannibal witch luring the hungry children in with wafts of warm gingerbread.
I oppose all such attempts to promote dialogue among local interest groups and work toward local solutions to local problems. Doing so is divisive and racist. Only federal solutions are acceptable.
We must unite in insisting that Congress, Interior, and Homeland Security solve all our problems for us!
(April Fool.)
Many foreign workers I talked to will be boycotting this meeting. So expect low participation in tomorrow's meeting. If ever, it would only be the officers of Dekada movement, and their lawyer, plus Siemer and Maya Kara, and maybe TaoTao Tano will be there.
I'll bet you ....for residency about 90 days....for federal another 3 to 4 years and if your employers meets federal standard...wake up bro. you are in the wrong side..i'm still believed if the grandfathering still on that bill for approval in senate...but its already omitted...commonse sense...hehehehe
Cactus.. if the local government wanted to do this, they would have done it long ago. They're doing it under pressure of federalization.
The only time they move on anything regarding workers, is when federal warnings or takeovers are threatened.
It's tiring, it's garbage, it's done already.
You do what's right because it's right.. not because it suddenly becomes in your interest to do what's right.
This is a hoax. Like every other hoax perpetrated by this government on local and non-resident workers alike.
Pull your head out of your a#s.
If you choose this you can only travel to Managaha!
Can I also travel to Rota, Bird Island, and Tinian on my Siemer / Woodruff card? Will I still get a 6 month vacation to PI every 3 years with my FFF (fitial fed fighters) card, and will it be green? If I am an engineer, appraiser, or highly skilled worker participating in illegal self employment fraud, will I be able to continue cheating the system?
Fitial for Gov. & Attorney Woodruff for Lt. Gov
"You do what's right because it's right.. not because it suddenly becomes in your interest to do what's right."
Hammerhead, your political naivete is breathtaking.
You would apparently reject any form of social progress if it did not proceed from spotlessly pure motives. But when has actual progress ever been accomplished based solely on such motives?
By your logic, the Emancipation Proclamation was no good, because it was issued as an expedient wartime measure in the immediate interest of the Union government, rather than simply because it was the right thing to do. It had, of course, been the right thing to do for decades, but no one had done it until circumstances made it in enough people's interest to do.
Indeed, by the same logic, you have to reject the federal immigration bill, which is on the brink of passage not because it is "right" (It is no more right, nor more wrong, now than it was ten years ago.), but because it has suddenly become in the federal government's interest.
Federal takeover is a given. If the government wants to do what's right, right now. (Let's just give forget their history for now). They will work to ensure that those workers who've worked here for over a decade, are included in some permanent status language in that bill.
Let's say the local government adopted something identical to the now-deleted grandfather clause of the original federalization bill. Would you oppose it simply because it was a local rather than a federal enactment?
If so, isn't it fair to say that your desired result is not any particular immigration policy that would flow from the imposition of federal control, but rather the imposition of federal control for its own sake?
Here is the reason I believe this is happening now. The bill still includes language that calls for a review of the status of long-term nonresident workers in two years. This is language that was put into the bill to, in some way, alleviate pressure from both proponents and opponents. In two years, long-stay nonresidents will be granted a special status via the feds.
By instituting a "local" special status initiative, they hope to:
1) Stop longstay non-resident worker and non-resident worker supporters from pursuing this via the feds.. leading up to that two year "review".
2) Portray a picture to the Feds that the issue has been dealt with and there is no need for them to provide special status federally.
I would be highly suspicious of any local initiative stating it will grant special status to longstay workers. Three years from now, after the feds have completed their "review" and made a determination that the issue has been settled.. the local government could pull the carpet from under these people.
I wouldn't trust those currently in power at all. They've displayed no action deserving of any trust at all, with regard to this issue.
To Cactus
"Let's say the local government adopted something identical to the now-deleted grandfather clause of the original federalization bill. Would you oppose it simply because it was a local rather than a federal enactment?
Yes, I would for the same reasons of trust, or lack thereof, the Lil just layed on you. Federal control is not for its own sake given our history, the facts, and our reputation regading labor and immigration concerns.
Lil - A common misconception of the S.2739 is that status will be evaluated after two yeas. My understanding is that the US will make recommendations and a determination at any point prior before the two year deadline.
I think the US will immediately offer applications for improved status to those longtime employees currently employed. How anyone can trust people responsible for a lobby to remove the original grandfathering provision is beyond belief, as you so eloquently compared it with PT Barnum wisdom.
As for guest workers that have been involved with immigration fraud, scams, operating their own business, or freelance contractors, that will be the feds problem to deal with. There may be an amnesty and there may not.
I think the "chamber" is 100% behind NMI residency because it is cheaper than the fed system and no one can leave the CNMI. Even though the "chamber" has been the tip of the spear against federalization, minimum wage increase, and supported the lobby against the grandfathering provision, but they do NOT want workers to leave Saipan. If workers are deported or have their status improved, it will mean less workers and that will drive wages up on the supply/demand scale. I thought all groups in Saipan supported this except the chamber, HANMI, and the dying garment industry.
Human Dignity Movement organizer Jerry Custudio, will have a press conference today at 11:00 am at the Pavilion across from Century Insurance concerning the Prayer Rally set for the 5th at AMP.
Prayer Rally - 5:00 pm AMP April 5
Thanks Ron. I know I didn't exactly make that clear in my blurb there. But I understand that to be the case as well, and that's why I stated.. "as soon as they're here, they start reporting.. I meant "reviewing"".
It is by no means clear that the feds will grant enhanced status to long-term CNMI guest workers soon after passage of the federalization bill. It's up to those of us who support enhanced status to press the issue with Congress and Interior. If national immigration reform is revived under President McClintobama, it is imperative that the CNMI's guest workers get on the agenda.
"Human Dignity Movement organizer Jerry Custudio, will have a press conference today at 11:00 am at the Pavilion across from Century Insurance concerning the Prayer Rally set for the 5th at AMP."
i hope they pray for a better organizer...
I think Jerry should pray to end suffering in his own country and not complain about $3.55 an hour in our country. All of you can follow this guy right off the cliff. Notwithstanding abuse of employees, most contract workers are not abused and are are perfectly happy with their situation on Saipan. It's the US Citizen worker who suffers with low wages. Not the contract worker.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
UPCOMING COMMUNITY DISCUSSION FORUMS
TOPIC: WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON A POSSIBLE LONGER-TERM RESIDENCE STATUS FOR QUALIFIED FOREIGN WORKERS
WHEN AND WHERE:
Kagman Community Center
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
(Kagman, Capitol Hill, Papago, Santa Lourdes)
San Vicente Elementary School Cafeteria
Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
(DanDan, San Vicente, Kannat Tabla, Fina Sisu)
Garapan Elementary School Cafeteria
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
(San Roque, Tanapag, As Matuis, Puerto Rico, Garapan)
Koblerville Community Center
Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
(San Antonio, Koblerville, Chalan Piao, Chalan Kanoa, Oleai, Susupe)
YOUR OPINIONS ARE WELCOMED:
How many years of successful work in the Commonwealth do you think should qualify a foreign worker for longer-term residence status?
What do you think of social responsibility requirements such as basic English skills and classes in CNMI history?
What kind of financial responsibility requirements do you think would be fair?
What other factors do you think should be considered?
Will Steve and Deanne, and TT keep meeting to restrict CGW's after the fed bill passed?
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