by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Guam Congressional Delegate Madeleine Bordallo is not feeling the love in the CNMI as residents and elected leaders there apparently are none too happy with her push to establish a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Visitors Center on Guam. She introduced a bill to that effect while at the same time so did CNMI's Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan, but his measure calls for the visitor center to be established in the CNMI instead.

A hearing on both bills will be held in DC this week.

The CNMI House of Representatives just this week passed a resolution supporting the center be built there instead of Guam. According to the Saipan Tribune, Representative Diego Benavente is quoted as saying Bordallo was out of line in requesting the visitor center in Guam when it should be established in the CNMI as indicated when former President George W Bush signed the proclamation designating the Marianas Trench as a marine national monument last year.