By Agnes Donato
SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, June 6) – Over 30 Pacific Island lawmakers are on Saipan to get more information and share ideas about sustainable energy.
The island governments represented in the 25th General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures are the CNMI, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, Guam, Palau, and Hawaii.
Four jurisdictions were missing as of yesterday: Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, and American Samoa.
From Monday through Wednesday, the APIL member delegations will discuss the topic of this year's conference, "Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources for the Pacific Islands."
House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta and Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola, who joined Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in welcoming the participants, said the topic was timely.
"The global rise in the cost of oil, coupled with our remote locale, has become a major challenge for our region. However, it is because of our unique...