Here's the link to that story:
Saipan Tribune - Saipan lawmakers are expected to pre-file today a bill that will allow long-time foreign workers to stay for five-year periods in the Commonwealth whether they have jobs or not.
The unsigned bill, a copy of which was obtained by the Saipan Tribune last night, proposes to create a new immigration category of “resident foreign nationals.”
A foreign worker may apply for a resident foreign national entry permit if he or she has lived legally in the CNMI for at least five years and has met character requirements.
A resident foreign national entry permit is valid for five years and may be renewed.
The bill does not offer permanent residency, resident status, citizenship, or nationality to a resident foreign national.
However, people granted this new immigration status would be able to live and work at will in the Northern Marianas in the same manner as a permanent resident. They would receive employment preference over other foreign workers. They may operate a business, be self-employed, and employ other foreign workers.
Immediate family members of resident foreign national may enter and remain in the CNMI for the period of the permit of the resident foreign national.
Resident foreign nationals and any immediate family members admitted to the CNMI under this immigration category are, however, still considered aliens and may still be subjected to deportation.
Representatives Tina Sablan, Heinz Hofschneider, Edward Salas and Victor Hocog will cosponsor the bill.
126 comments:
This would be a very positive step.
If Tina was involved with writing it, and she was, it will make a great transition step for CGW's and the NMI. Heinz, Ed, and Victor should be applauded as well.
It may also help some that do not fit into a desirable US visa category.
This is much preferred after federalization than the attempt to derail s.2739.
The Fitial Fed Fighters, the "chamber", HANMI, and this administration will have mixed emotions. Some may have thrown in the towel of the old status quo of restricting workers rights to quit and change employers, but some of these groups have long fought against freedoms for CGW's and will still lobby to amend s.2739 or thwart equality if it saves them a dime. I suspect business will profiteer off the backs of underpaid guest workers until they unify, something they have never done.
Thanks Ronny! Does this mean that Pl-15-108 is dead and does this mean that the seimer/dekada/TTT group is over?
Will you attend Irene's May 4 Unity of CGW's forum.
I agree this is very positive. Good for workers, good for businesses, good for the CNMI's economy, and good for the Department of Labor.
LOL! Federal law supersedes ALL labor and immigration laws here. Really LOL! Means nada.
To Anonymous LGW,
FYI this Tina's Bill is a group effort of the ff;DEKADA,MOVER,ATTY. WOODRUFF,D. SIEMER,M. KARA and other individuals who participated in forums in Kagman,San Vicente and Garapan last week, in fact we have a forum in Koblerville tomorrow and Tina is one of the panelist.We are working this initiative for almost 2 months and this is only a piece of the pie.Im sorry you are lost.If I were you please check CREDIBLE group and verify with FACTS.......
Better late than never.
Section 103(a) of Title VII of the imminent new law creating Section 6(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Joint Resolution approving the Covenant limits the guaranteed validity of CNMI entry permits to two years after the transition program begins, or slightly more than three years after enactment.
Notwithstanding the five-year residency authorized under the CNMI bill, anything more than the 3 years (plus up to one month depending on when in the month the federalization law actually gets signed -- earlier in the month the better for workers) set forth in the takeover legislation is not guaranteed by due process, since the contract guest workers are deemed aware of the pending federal legislation.
Of course, the federal regulations can be as generous as DHS, Labor, State, Justice, and Interior allow.
Turning to more speculative guesswork, it is questionable whether the resource-constrained feds are going to undertake to deport all the out-of-status people who may be here, though I hope otherwise. Much more likely is some sort of federal amnesty, or just ignoring the law as is done in the mainland (another reason I opposed federalization).
Congratulations to Dekada Shyster, Deanne C. Siemer, Maya B. Kara, MOVERS, Dekada, the Original Unity Core Group, and of course the Honorable Christina Marie Elise Sablan, for your ongoing efforts to make our Commonwealth a better place, even in the fact of harsh criticism from all sides of the political spectrum.
Let us pray that the true values of the CNMI people shall prevail in the Legislature. “It is never too late to do the right thing.” ~ MLK, Jr.
Congrats to Boni Sagana and his group.You guys are TRUE leaders.It hard to beat with a 4 years foundation and legitimate non-profit organization with a 500 members...to our RIDERS look your back whose with you that time...MR. BONI SAGANA...we believe TRUTH WILL PREVAILS.....
FYI
Siemer and Kara did not contribute to helping Tina. lol. They told her not to file it. How did this help?
Congrats to Tina congrats to dekada and all worker groups for always believing in improve status
"Let us pray that the true values of the CNMI people shall prevail in the Legislature. “It is never too late to do the right thing.” ~ MLK, Jr."
wow, truly amazing that mlk, jr. knew about the cnmi all those years ago.
This moved by Cong.Tina & DEKADA for residency is great hope for longterm guestworkers unlike OTHERS dreaming for green card will take another years utmost.Although there is a 2 years study but still need to be approve and study by the US CONGRESS.....im tired of signiture campaign by Gerry C...take note thats originated from DEKADA....BONI you rocks CNMI.
BINABATI KO ANG DEKADA AT UNITY WORKING GROUP SA PATULOY NINYONG PAKIKIPALABAN PARA SA KAPAKANAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA,KAHIT NA BINABATO KAYO NG PANGUNGUTYA AT MAPANIRANG MGA SALITA KATULAD NG NABAYARAN KAYO, NAKIKIPAGSAYAW KAYO SA WOLF AT KUNG ANO-ANO PANG MASASAKIT NA SALITA AY NARIYAN PARIN KAYO AT HINDI NASISIRAAN NG LOOB AT PATULOY NA NANININDIGAN SA INYONG PINAGLALABAN.NGAYON NAKIKITA NA ANG BUNGA NG INYONG PAGHIHIRAP AT PATI ANG MGA TAONG NANINIRA ATSUMASALUNGAT AY IBIG NARING MAG BUNYI...
IPAGPATULOY NYO KABAYAN SALAMAT SA INYO SA PANGUNGUNA NI TINA SABLAN,ATTY.WOODRUFF,BONNI AT GANOON DIN SA BUMUBUO NG WORKING GROUP, MABUHAY KAYO AT PROUD KAMI SA INYO. GOD BLESS
I believe this is the TIME for DEKADA& group to conduct a VALID SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN to support the Tina's Bill to save and protect guestworkers and there families as well. BIBA FOR MALOU BERUECO & TRESE....you guys are the proven leaders NOT THEM.....this guys dont need exposures.....
DEKADA should have a signature campaign on May 4,2008 for Foreign Residency...what's your comment BONI?
hahaha... and just for your information Dekada does not charge $2.00 to get your signature(like Conrad mentioned at Monte Carlo the $2.00 was a fee to help the establishment PAY for POWER! UTILITIES AIN'T CHEAP YOU KNOW!)...some of those people talking out there, and you guys know who you are... need to get your facts straight and STOP talking...I WAS AT THAT FORUM, I PAID MY TWO BUCKS, AND FOR YOUR EFFIN INFORMATION I DIDN'T EVEN SIGN THAT LOG SHEET!
I don't really want to congratulate anyone at this moment in time because the bill has only been filed... and as we all know that doesn't mean it will pass in the house or in the Senate and then again we really don't know what the Governor thinks about all this...its the same as the federalization bill! its still waiting on confirmation from the house and then it will be sent to the president for his pretty signature. I'm sorry if i make it seem like i am doubting the whole situation, but thats reality and i suggest that everyone wake up and face it! its too soon to be giving any one pats on the back!
AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL SHARE... THE LAST FORUM IS HAPPENING TOMORROW 04-24-2008 AT THE KOBLERVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER IN BETWEEN THE FIRE STATION AND THE BASKETBALL COURT AT 6:00PM... COME AND JOIN US IN OUR DISCUSSION! HET YOUR VOICES AND CONCERNS BE HEARD I KNOW MY CONCERNS WERE!
I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES THAT WE LIVE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SHARE SO I WASTE MY SOOOOOO EXPENSIVE GAS AND MOST VALUABLE TIME TO ATTEND THESE FORUMS... I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED WHETHER YOU SUPPORT IT OR DISAPPROVE OF IT COME AND JOIN US FOR IT WILL SOMEHOW MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
si, tinilaika ta nisisita
SORRY
"HET YOUR VOICES AND CONCERNS BE HEARD I KNOW MY CONCERNS WERE!"
CORRECTION
LET YOUR VOICES AND CONCERNS BE HEARD I KNOW MY CONCERNS WERE!
SI, TINILAIKA TA NISISITA
If we are going to have the financially sponsored fed bill then the NMI should not have a local bill to pay for and those that don't meet the fed requirements are gone.
The 19k workers here can't even unite 1000 unless there is gonna be free food or something free.
the nmi CGWs needs leadersip and DEKADA has proved they haves 500 members and should win prize for most of the members.
malou writes these anonymous things here
she wants to be nmi workers leader cause she don't like irene
why do workers need to organize now
will you organize for or against feds again
who is malou
will dekada leaders still get to sit in front when lawyers talk
will we do fund raising to help our leaders
This bill has not passed and locals and business leaders here will be against this bill to pass
The poll on right is split
We should deport the low skilled ones and keep highly skilled
This bill is much better for us so locals will be against it I think
Boni Sagana for NMI Gov
Greg Cruz for Lt. Gov
Oh yeah, this is a great plan. What will the CNMI do with a bunch of low skilled workers that can't qualify for a US visa? At best, the smartest will leave and we will be stuck with a bunch of Chinese and no garment factories to put them in. This residency bill is foolish economics and will make the NMi look like a back alley in Jakarta. Oh yeah, lets elect a dumb filipino too so we can certify begging as an NMI government job classification. Oh yeah, lets elect a dekata to office too. The NMI would then need to pass out beggar cups to tourists on arrival.
Sorry Englis no good.
I am china girl from china. I come saipan years before for working in factory. I see usa on tv and want to go usa. local monkey big problem for china girl. I talk to local for driving test I must pay $50 cash money for test. Great chief of saipan make my baby 2 years before. baby now like brown color. this no good for luck of china girl. china girl now have no money from boom boom short time with local monkey. local monkey no money for china girl only for poker. Bok Choy no good.
I am good communist.
Xiang Xiang Lee
Rickshaws will solve the fuel problem here in the CNMI. I now have a more sound approach to this.
Let's say instead of one male Bangladeshi pulling a Rickshaw you have two Bangladeshis. Bangladesh has a caste system like India. If you see your standard issue male Bangladeshi with his fingernails grown long, they are upper caste, like office workers. The others are Bangladeshi on the rickshaw wcannon fodder and slaves. Ok. The forward Bangladeshi will be the lead, the labor. The rear Bangladeshi will hold a rattan cane and every so often flog the forward Bangladeshi. He has to be careful not to damage the lead rickshaw puller. YOU DON"T WANT TO DAMAGE YOUR BANGLADESHI. The Chamorro passengers will then get to their destination much quicker than before. So, instead of an average Bangladeshi lower caste male drinking a gallon of water every six hours, you can cut that in half. So now we are talking about one gallon of water every twelve miles. In other words, your standard issue lower caste Bangladeshi will get 40 miles to the galllon.
Not bad heh? Please let me know what you think.
Has this bill considered the burden it will put on the already burdened PSS if family members are allowed to enter the CNMI?
hmmm...
"They would receive employment preference over other foreign workers. They may operate a business, be self-employed, and employ other foreign workers."
The CNMI Governor will never allow this....may operate a business and employ...what happens to employees when 5 years is up? No local would be for this bill.
"Immediate family members of resident foreign national may enter and remain in the CNMI for the period of the permit of the resident foreign national."
Hahahaha filipinos and chinese invading the broke commonwealth already full of enemployed filipinos and garment employees without factories to work in are now many prostitutes. Maybe we can employ cheap filipino teachers and fire the haoles.
dekada claims credit for making bill with federalization core fighters of TTT and lawyers...
very strange when...
Governor main man opposes bill in trib today
Lanya...who can you believe?
CGW need very sincere and united leaders for CGW's to have success.
Pairing up with Guam workers is VERY smart as you will all have more opportunity in Guam than in Saipan.
This Saipan worker bill is crazy as the federalization will impose the same rules on CGW here that guam has...like it or lump it.
This is a tough world and Saipan nor the US can feed the PI or China.
If we wanna help Saipan, we need to cut the fat and keeping our low skilled filipinos and giving them more rights and ability to bring kids and family..and employ other broke persons...none of which pay taxes will make all sane persons here move elsewhere.
Furthermore, if we want to compete with tourism from other countries, we need to send old home, Guam, or mainland and get new, young, workers for here.
It is a fact.
"Has this bill considered the burden it will put on the already burdened PSS if family members are allowed to enter the CNMI?"
i think that this issue has some merit. i dont think we should allow anyone but immediate family to come, like familes who have been torn apart because their past employers sent them home for being pregnant so their child had to be left in PI when the eventually came back to the CNMI. I know this has happened to more people than are reported. However, how much of a problem will this be as their income is so little taht buying a ticket may be more than their budget can allow. maybe that is speculation.
i do support this bill because it will save many families and businesses the renewal money, from IR's to the annually renewed.
"The NMI will be inundated with or burdened by Filipinos" is a moot argument.. non-resident workers from China, Philippines, Bangladesh, and at one time Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, have outnumbered the US residents 3:1 for more than the last two decades. This bill will do none of what the xenophobe's here claim.
We didn't hear this "the Filipino's are going to be a burden to PSS" ten years ago. Why all of a sudden are they going to be a burden? They're going to be a "burden" to you, not because of PSS. This is a lame and racist excuse. They're going to be a "burden", because they'll have a few more rights, and won't have to simply take the sh@t that's fed to them.
The "low skilled" Filipino workers, do your taxes, nurse your sick, teach your children, care for your children, design your buildings, build your buildings, design your roadways, build your roadways, report for your newspaper, print your newspaper, cook your food, manage your hotel front desk, clean guest rooms, pilot your boats, farm your farms, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
If they're "low skilled" as a population here.. what does that say about our own local workers?
This bill will do nothing to harm the CNMI. It will show a little bit of care for those who have helped build the infrastructure of the CNMI and continue to serve us here.
Why don't you redirect your anger towards the real source of the problems here.. Greed and the historic incompetance of our elected leaders.
Comeon be a little bit honest with yourselves.
Head on back to your home that was designed and built by Filipinos, on that road that was designed and paved by Filipino's, and into the comfort of your house, where your kids, who've probably been taught by a Filipino teacher, are now being fed and cared for by your Filipino housekeeper.. and count your blessings for the comforts you enjoy on a daily basis.. most of them are available due directly to Filipinos.
anonymous, who wrote that i posted all the topics anonymous name here because i don't like irene "AY ISANG MALAKING MALING HULA!!!" Are you kidding me? I have my nerve to post my name here...you are not actually guessing...you are already pointing fingers...you are the coward that cannot put your name in the forum...good day to you and God bless you...may you be enlightened...oops, bat hula mo ako? pareho ba kaming mag-english baluktot?
-malou berueco-
deport all the fucking flips.
Biba Taotao Tano!
Cruz is looking like a visionary here and while Guam homes doubled the last two years according to the newspapers and they are supposed to double every 3 years for the next 10....ours is worthless...i am moving before the filipinos or chinese take over.
Cruz is about as visionary as a roving crystal ball reading fraud. A visionary for the apathetic, lost and delusional.
The only thing Cruz envisions is parlaying his blabber into a government job.
Don't worry about a lot of immediate family members coming over. The bill says they can bring them over under the provisions of existing law, and the existing law has fairly significant income requirements before one can sponsor IR's.
We dont credit dekada,Siemer group.They dont tell the truth.They are like Tao tao Tano. Birds of the same feather flock together.
We CONGRATULATE REP. TINA SABLAN.
God bless us !The truth will set us free!
To Last Anon;
I will tell this,to get facts before you judge DEKADA,if I were you I will ask Cong.Tina, who originated this idea.It was since December last year we are formulating this bill with Att.Woodruff and Dekada.D. Siemer is not with us that then.I know who you are ,you are ONE of the RIDERS.You will EAT YOUR WORDS.We should laud DEKADA for untired effort for "CREDIBLY PROTECTING LGW."
Are Dekada joining with the united workers of the NMI?
Are Dekada boycott the improved statud petition?
I have heard many dekada signed it already and don't care what the leaders says
CGWs have no leaders and their lack of organization is pathetic.
CGWs have no leaders but are organizing with national backing to have a sanctioned election, but until then, Irene is the temporary interim president.
Boni and his group are the PROVEN leaders ,of course we have Atty. Woodruff,we were here in this issue since 2004.We have strong belief,heart,dedications and sacrifices....who's Irene and were she is that times...L&T CO......to my kababayan be careful YOU MIGHT "DANCING WITH WOLF"...think?
Dekada wizkids - Ben Fitial has already said to numerous people that the NMI residency bill is DEAD unless they pull out free open transfers...nice work with your lawyer friends...nice...you could let att woodruff be your union president....yea federal.
Boni is a leader????????
Boni Sagana is a scamming and longtime unemployed CGW that works with his wifes snack store....the labor director knows this and does nothing because he a pawn for government...he is allowed to do so for be allowed to be puppet for business leaders
leader...my ass
You dekada did beg for nmi resadency in 2004...unsuccessfully and are now way behind whats happening.
When you formed you did nothing in the movement other than follow behind the herd.
I am never been a member but you people are seeking thanks and praise where liitle is due.
May god bless and help you through this bitter times.
NEWS UPDATE
Charles R. has confirmed the gov will never support workers to transfer freely and would VETO before allowing this to happen. The chamber and HANMI would never support gov if he do these things
The Governor and his federalization fighting task force of lawyers will NEVER allow poor dumb dekada to transfer. Sad and bitter times.
Maybee lawyers will help poor dekada get local green cards for tinian and rota entry but no quit or change employers
Please give dekada (low skilled workers) green cards so they will move to Guam and the US mainland. For God's sake don't keep them here when we can hire UNLIMITED YOUNGER MORE HIGHLY SKILLED GUEST WORKERS UNTIL 2014 AND RENEWABLE FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF WE GIVE NMI RESIDENCY THEY WILL STAY HERE AND WE WILL BE THE 3RD WORLD OF AMERICA. US POLITICIANS MAY LAUGH ABOUT THAT.
LOVE THE CGW AND SEND THEM TO AMERICA.
The NMI local residency bill has major flaws and would someone please explain why we would ever entertain the thought of giving hiring preferences to unskilled guest workers, even over highly skilled.
That would ruin the NMI.
2 posts up - I think the business leaders and human rigths activists will find common ground on the concept that improved status can only help the economics of Saipan, and yes, sadly, Saipan would be better off without the low skilled workers. They will all be better off in Guam.
We could load up one big boat and send them all together and save 500 air tickets. Lanya, I am a geniues.
The only way they will leave is free ticket, free lunch, free housing, and free food stamps and free schools. freefreefree
Lanya, let uncle sam pay this bill.
We could let them all push rickshaws to create power surplus????
Serious question - This blog is filled with hatred and mean spirited pointless name calling but I do have a simple question if someone would be so kind to answer.
My husband and I are long time workers here. If we long term lease a property like a 55 year lease and someday the law changes to allow ownership will that be for citizens only or for any resident?
Thank you.
did the dekada take credit for writing nmi local bill? what a joke. they have asked for nmi residency since they did not get the green card from the tenorio/abramoff years. maybe tina did write it for em though.
Sorry, englis no good.
Help please I need job.
I need much money. I like boom boom with soul brother from navy ship. soul brother make china girl much happy. china man make china girl laugh at small egg roll. I go to watch usa movie but no one there. I wait many hour for waiting in dark. I like saipan much. Before 10 years american big boss come saipan to look factory. He say to me, Xiang Xiang you must put mouth on my egg roll, I no like. Great chief of factories tell me to put mouth on egg roll many time, me no like. China girl have many question.
Thank you. China girl no like Falun Gong. Falun Gong make big trouble China. Falun Gong have good liver for make long life of many good Communists.
Xiang Xiang Lee
Hollwood Theaters, Saipan
Anonymous said...
“My husband and I are long time workers here. If we long term lease a property like a 55 year lease and someday the law changes to allow ownership will that be for citizens only or for any resident?”
The answer is: "It depends."
First of all, it depends on the terms of any change to Article XII. It could be changed to "benefit" U.S. citizens rather than just persons of Northern Marianas Descent (NMD). But since one of the primary drawbacks to Article XII is the adverse economic impact, it is likely any relief from this provision would apply to aliens as well, since outside investors are the ones with the money. Keep in mind that any change to the CNMI Constitution requires voter approval.
Secondly, even if Article XII were repealed, that would not change the terms of any existing leases. These would continue until the end of the lease period, with the property reverting to the remainder holder at the end of the lease.
Some leases have provisions that if the law changes, the lease holder gets a fee simple (complete, unlimited) interest. But without additional consideration (payment), these are of dubious validity. Under Article XII, the NMD remainder holder cannot be forced to give up his interest.
Other leases force the remainder holder to pay for the fair market value (or a pre-determined amount) for the improvements. These provisions have also never been legally tested.
So we will have to wait and see what changes, if any, are actually made to Article XII.
In my view, the economic downsides of Article XII are even worse than impending federalization, but that is ultimately an issue of how much "protecting the culture" is worth.
Query: Is an armchair quarterback really a quarterback?
Noh2 - This is the third world.. courtesy of the people you voted for, and likely the product of the backward ways displayed in your comments.
With attitudes like yours.. it will remain third world.
Let's hope intelligence and goodness prevail.
Saipan is a microcosm of the world. The most the poor can hope for is to not get poorer. It doesn't matter if you're filipino, bangla, chinese, micronesian, chamorro or carolinian. Filipinos exploit filipinos, chinese exploit chinese, chammorros damn sure exploit each other. It's not about who you are or where you're from. It's about rich vs poor. You can't get rich without exploiting somebody. That's how it is, that's how it's always been, that's how it always will be. Woodruff, tina, dekada, ttt- they can't change that. Jesus couldn't. Look at your local catholic officialdom.
... and you're right Lil, it is third world here. It always was. It was just glittered over by the 'exploiters' who have since moved on to easier pickings. A handful of locals got rich and the rest were left bereft. Hell, a bunch were literally abandoned. That's called Capitalism, which usually arrives cloaked in Democracy. And here come the biggest exploiters of all- the US.
Think things are tough, wait 'til the marines get here. Flash your NMD ID card at them.
Oh, and intelligence and goodness are still in abundance. Unfortunately you can't pay your CUC bill with either.
There seems to be a very melancholy mood out there, as reflected in the comments on this blog. It comes through in the serious comments, the humorous ones and even the tasteless ones. Things will get better!
Mga kababayan ko, ano na po ba ang nangyayari sa atin? bakit po puro galit, paninira, at nagpapalitan tayo ng mga maaanghang na salita sa kapwa natin pilipino? sana po magkaisa nalang po tayo para na rin po sa ikaaayos ng buhay natin lalong lalo na po sa sitwasyon nating mga contract workers dito sa saipan. Pinagtatawanan na po tayo ng ibang nasyon dahil tayo tayo na mismo ang naninira sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Alam kong nasasaktan din kayo kapag may nababasa kayo dito against sa atin na mga Filipino Contract Workers.
Sana patnubayan po tayo ng Poong Maykapal na magkaisa nalang tayong mga Pilipino. Kayanin po natin kabayan... PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL!
My advice would be to wipe off that one-pint sludge of pink mayo that they put on the burgers at Jollibee, add a little ketchup and mustard instead, enjoy the new flavor and possibly add a few years to your existence.
Go home Filipinos. Go home Chinese. Go home Lil', sorry, couldn't help it.
Go home chamorros.
No mo pink mayo with sugar at jollabees, then lets have a unity march and invite dekada so we can each give 100 dollars each to woody and seimer to get a real monagaha island green card....yea federal.
Dekada and there 10 core supporters will not be protected because the lawyers are done with em.
We must not give credit to Dekada, they must explain the 100dollars they collected.
Where is the report! TRANSPARENCY PLEASE! THATS PEOPLES MONEY!
To last Anon;
So who can get the credit?......
Are you one of the members of DEKADA? FYI Only members has the right to inquire regarding that matter.If you are you can check Atty.Woodruff.
So will see soon how Atty. Woodruff and Dekada members fight in court a person who commented negative issue in newspapers last week.
To the last Anon, efforts to intimidate people who criticize Dekada are a waste of time and are no better than efforts by some employers and some in government to intimidate guest workers. In each case, it's taking advantage of people's powerlessness because you have a lawyer. This sniping between various factions of the guest workers movement is a real shame, and benefits no one more than those who would exploit the guest workers. The situation calls for unity among guest workers, which means that all leaders and all factions must subvert their egos for the greater good.
People are fighting over who deserves the "credit", when there isn't even anything to take credit for yet. How silly. Keep your eyes on the prize, people!
When Dekada Lawyer comes onto these websites providing detailed info about these various proposals, he performs a real public service. On the other hand, when he comes on wagging his finger at people who criticize him or his group, disagree with them or don't characterize what they're doing in exactly the way that they want it to be characterized, he comes across as an oversensitive bully and a jackass. We need more of the former Dekada Lawyer and less of the latter. More public service, less defensiveness, sniping and bullying.
This mean spirited pointless blog has a shot at another 100 comments, or 50 times the average on sablogger, porkys, or hyperactionthunk.
The Saipan crowd must be starved for real entertainment.
What exactly is a dekata?
"The Saipan crowd must be starved for real entertainment."
You're here Halfpast, and you're commenting. :} Starved?
Lil - Your monument post is the all record for accuracy and funny...hats off to the real saipan bog king/queen
Freakin' Filipinos are annoying as hell. What a bunch of religious nuts always wanting to get away from the Philippines. Go home to your own country and bitch.
The blog isn't mean spirited or pointless. Some of the comments are, but the blog doesn't moderate comments. This is free speech in action, for better or worse.
Looks like federalization is getting closer. The House will vote on Tuesday. What does this mean for this bill?
House vote is a formality as the same bill already passed unanamously.
Dekada does not represent CGWs. They have only 5% even if there number is accurate. The have no other nationalities and there leadership is self appointed.
The United Workers group will soon vote for elected officers and is open to all nationalities and peoples.
United Workers are meeting nightly for May 4 Rally.
Where is the MONEY Gone??????????
Who will run for United Workers president.
Will Irene run? Who else?
What Chines worker will run?
Does anyone know the breakdown, or how many Chinese vs how many filipinos and how many cGWs are in neither group?
8000 Chinese girls
7000 flips
4000 all other
Unity is strength.
To so called Unity,
Stop dreaming....count your last vigil rally....
To so called Unity?
Where were you when we initiate this plight?.....RIDERS....
Dekada Shyster is a good man.
Ron Hodges is NOT WELCOME at "Irene's May 4 Unity of CGW's forum." The newspaper letter to the editor announcement specifically said it was for CONTRACT WORKERS ONLY!
Not to generalize, but I have seen many Filipino organizations tend to split into rival organizations that then fight with each other. That seems to be happening here, which is not good.
Wow, another 100-comment post. At least people are paying attention. Or maybe there's nothing else to do now that Hollywood Theaters is closed. There will be a lot of change in Saipan soon, and most of it will be for the better.
I will make it 101 comments.I'm for DEKADA not for Irene Unity Group......
Dekada is against ALL workers group uniting including invitation to Dekada? Why?
anon - "Not to generalize, but I have seen many Filipino organizations tend to split into rival organizations that then fight with each other. That seems to be happening here, which is not good."
The CGWs do not have much unity and until they do, we can expect low wages or riding the US min wage, which seems to be shooting low. Only unity and organization will make CGWs equall here.
Dekada wants a senority ranking above Chinese and others groups to keep their unelected self appointed leaders in charge.
Will the United group collect membership money and do they have treasurer?
In charge of what?????????
Perhaps the cGWs should have a bicamral congress with elected representatives in their house based on population and 2 senators for each group.
Each member could then have a staff, car, and driver to attend an endless caluge of meetings and rallies.
The uS President has not signed this bill yet. Big plans with illegal alien workers are a bit premature.
"In addition we want to also address the newly formed United Coalition of Guest worker group, led by Mrs. Irene Tantiado, Jerry Custodio, Simong Sin, and Ronnie Docca that their quest for “improved immigration status” here in our homeland is moot. A majority of the guest workers here in our homeland continue there issue of unfairness and injustices but they seemed to ignore the fact that their status improved the minute they set foot in our homeland otherwise they wouldn't have lived here 10, 15, 20 or 27 years. " - Goro
FFF/TTT/Dekada group wants Irene group out so can manipulate the rest.
with new bill cancelled leaves PL-15-108 to complete its porpuse and send the undisirables to land of origin so we can get younger employees with zero years and zero chance getting green cards.
I would like to invite all my kababayans to join me in congratulating the Fitial administration and Deane Seimer and Maya Kara in dividing what was once a united group of guest workers.
I cannot believe what I am reading. I am deeply disappointed in all of you, for you have played right into their hands.
No side is completely right. But you find the best solution through a series of debates and democracy. Finding the right answer is never easy. But to divide and split over silly differences? I am deeply saddened by this...
There can be no victory for guest workers if you stand divided.
Ed - There seems to be some grappling for leadership positions. This is a little ironic as many old national unions have difficulty finding representatives. I held a union office in the UAW once. I earned that position not by leadership ability, intelligence, education, or popularity, but because I was the junior employee and older workers with more years service did not want that tireless, thankless, payless job. Leadership positions in worker unions receive no additional pay, are volunteers, and receive as much recognition as one would expect coaching elementary soccer or cleaning the local beaches.
The May 4 rally is sounding like election day in the Philippines. Perhaps you could line up all the groups with a unity plan of action. It will be hard for you to have a revolution if your armies are divided. Are those numbers of ethnic groups listed above correct? Unity would suggest choosing leaders from one of the smaller ethnicities like Nepalese or Bangladeshi to show CGW’s are not grouped by race or ethnicity. Gandhi offered the first Prime Minister to Mr. Jenna to unite Muslims and Hindu.
Irene is a smart and very sincere person but I think her first order of business is to hold an election, organize support for improved status to be added in the federal bill, and fight PL-15-108.
Tina’s (and any others who helped write, promote, or introduce) bill will have a tough time
passing if Ben Fitial can veto it, which will leave CGW's in political limbo until the DOI acts.
ps "The newspaper letter to the editor announcement specifically said it was for CONTRACT WORKERS ONLY!"
Yes it did and what a great idea.
“It's amazing how much can be accomplished when no one cares who receives the credit.”
Nice t-shirts, Mr. C.!
Do none of you realize that this law will mean nothing once the feds take over immigration? Their laws will supercede anything passed locally. And their goal at this point is to reduce the contract workforce to zero in 5 years. They don't want you to stay long term, they want to get rid of you permanently, and once they are in control of immigration, they can and will do it.
The DOL has written comments on this bill using Cinta Kaipat which can be seen at unheardnomore.blogspot.com
What a tragedy for our community. This response is cold hearted, poorly conceived, inaccurate, economically flawed, racist in intent, and a complete disappointment in every respect. One thing this letter is not, and that is a surprise. Big business is quite predictable and our puppets here follow the script to the letter.
My compliments to Representatives Tina Sablan, Victor Hocog, Heinz Hofschneider, and Edward Salas for offer such a progressive piece of legislation.
Why don't you tell them the truth Ron? Tell them that the federalization you all pushed so hard for will render this piece of legislation by Tina moot and void. Federalization means they won't consider any type of long term or permanent residency for contract workers, just look at what they are doing in the states right now. If you people don't get this, you are either completely ignorant or just plain stupid.
Anon - You sir, have been two moves behind the chess game from the onset. I would bet you on status but you are, to quote Bruce, "an anonymous puke".
Armchair Lawyer [Comment #7] said...
“Section 103(a) of Title VII of the imminent new law creating Section 6(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Joint Resolution approving the Covenant limits the guaranteed validity of CNMI entry permits to two years after the transition program begins, or slightly more than three years after enactment.”
However, it is possible under Section 103(a) of Title VII of the imminent new law creating Section 6(a)(3)(A) of the Joint Resolution approving the Covenant that the federal government may choose to delay commencement of the transition program up to six months -- actually 180 days -- to give the feds more time to develop their regulations.
So assuming the President signs the bill into law in May 2008, the federal transition program (“federal takeover”) will thus begin on June 1, 2009 or possibly as late as November 28, 2009.
Hence, any CNMI status would be valid, at most, until June 1, 2011 -- or possibly as late as November 28, 2011 should the federal government choose to delay the commencement of the Transition Program for as long as possible.
Under the “federal takeover,” there is little point in giving contract workers status past that date, unless the authors of H.B. 16-86 support a lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge the validity to the legislation.
;-)
No one will be deported by the NMI after President Bush signs the bill into law.
Do you have a specific provision of the bill that says that? Or wishful thinking on the part of some congressional staffer?
Ron, you're a drunken moron who has been pandering to and lying to the contract workers all because you're married to one. Soon there will be nothing to argue about as you will all be proven wrong and the contract workers will have to leave their comments from the Philippines after they have been sent back.
And Read Much, you're only partially right when you say no one will be deported after President Bush signs the law. Actually the CNMI will still control their own immigration for 12-18 months after the signing of the bill during the "pre-transition" period, while the US drafts their rules and regulations and gets their people into place. Once they are ready, the US will begin deporting contract workers, forcing businesses to replace them with local workers. That's what this bill is all about, getting rid of you, and replacing you with local workers. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
Last ANON, I think you are right. If guest workers and their supporters are sure that they would not be sent back home, then, why are they working so hard to gather signatures for petition for a green card? And forming a new coalition group to have a voice. Voice? What voice? Can someone explain?
Read much said...
“No one will be deported by the NMI after President Bush signs the bill into law.”
Ipse Dixit said...
“Do you have a specific provision of the bill that says that? Or wishful thinking on the part of some congressional staffer?”
Until the “Transition Program” becomes effective some time between June 1, 2008 and November 28, 2008 (depending on whether the feds need more time to draft regulations), the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, at Subsection 702(i), imposes a two-fold responsibility of the CNMI government: (1) not to increase the number of Foreign National Workers in the CNMI, and (2) to continue to implement its Refugee/ Torture Protection program.
Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, S. 2739, tit. VII, subtit. A, § 702(i)(1) & (2) (as passed by House, Apr. 29, 2008).
By its very terms, a prohibition on increasing the number of Foreign National Workers implies that decreasing that number is acceptable, or even encouraged given the Act's stated goal of phasing out the CNMI guest worker program. Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, § 701(a)(1)(A) (as passed by House, Apr. 29, 2008).
Persons in need of Torture Protection are already not being deported, so this is no change of policy either.
It is such persons whom the Congressional staffer on Wendy's weblog must have had in mind, not every guest worker whose employer goes out of business due to the minimum wage increase or anticipated consequences of federalization.
The biggest question is whether the CNMI government will have the funds to continue its deportations, or whether they will simply wait for the feds to pay for it in 12-18 months.
Maybe that is what you had in mind, Read Much, that the CNMI government would choose to forego deportations once the bill is signed?
Somehow, I doubt it. Having deportable folks "hanging on" in the CNMI for want of anything better to do with their lives (or misinformed optimism about a federal amnesty) does nothing to improve the ecomomic and social situation in the Commonwealth, and a lot to detract from it.
I predict it will be business as usual at the CNMI Division of Immigration over the next 12-18 months as far as deportations are concerned, with perhaps a slight increase as more employers go out of business.
Of course, should the economy turn a corner, there would be more jobs and fewer deportations or voluntary departures.
No matter how many times that people would explain to the Foreign National workers, (about the S.2739 Bil) specially to those Filipino guest workers most of them would not listen because of their personal believe and they also a part of Dekada Group. We should have someone that are not siding any Foriegn National Workers to explain about the S.2739 Bill, I do believe that this what we need right now. I am not siding anyone, I am just a concerned Filipino citizen. I would like you to understand and accept what exactly in the S.2739 Bill. There's no point fighting over nothing and we have nothing to lost if we listen to the right people. We all need the truth as a guest workers of the CNMI it's our right to find someone that who could give us the right meaning (answer) of the S.2739 Bill. We came here in the CNMI to worked and let us all remember that. How i really hope that DEKADA will now realize how bad the setuation for all the Foriegn National Workers. We have to understand that no matter what we do now, nothing will do us good. It's really a big mistake for you all (members of DEKADA) to pay for the Hundred Dollars each. I know that so many of the Foriegn National Workers had paid DEKADA, because they promise you guys to give US Citizeship. If you all had read the news paper a way back (just before the end of year 2007) Mr. Boni Sagana had said that your one hundred dollars membership was only good for one year. So, that means that if you still a DEKADA members up to now you need to pay another one hundred dollars to renew your membership. I just hope that you all be united and get all your money back. Thank you so much for allowing my comment.
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