Two of the 13 original framers of the Covenant that established a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the U.S. shared their perspectives on the negotiations 48 years after 78.8% of voters in the NMI approved it. It was later signed by President Gerald Ford.

Manuel Sablan was one of the negotiators under the Marianas Political Status Commission and shared his perspective at an event held by the NMI judiciary on its anniversary.

“The Covenant provides us basically everything we need to correct whatever problem we're having,” said Sablan.

Questions about the future of the covenant and political status were also raised. Former Lt. Governor and negotiator Pedro Tenorio.

Tenorio said, “The question of integration with Guam continues to come up. Maybe not as vocally now as before, but now people even among us would think, you know, in the beginning we were very sensitive to home rule. We don't want to integrate because Guam has more population than the CNMI, and we might end up being dominated and overwhelmed and we'll never get a chance to become governor from Saipan, or Tinian, or Rota because Guam has the population and they can vote for them. But you know, things are changing. And I think we should be more open-minded about getting together with Guam, at least because of our common culture and tradition.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General Rellani Ogumoro explained her vision for the Covenant.

“The covenant doesn't have an expiration date. So as we move forward that we, you know, always secure the promise of the covenant,” said Ogumoro.