By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

THE sister of the fifth CNMI war casualty in Iraq says Vice President Dick Cheney should also visit the Northern Marianas after he visits Guam next week.
Cheney is scheduled to be on Guam Feb. 22 en route to Japan and Australia.
Juanette Camacho, the sister of the slain Army Spc. Leroy Camacho, 27, said Cheney “should also come here and I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t come here — bear in mind that we have had more casualties here than Guam.”
Juanette Camacho’s son is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq next month.
Her brother was killed in action on Feb. 9. There is no information yet on when his remains will be brought back to Saipan.
His family is holding a nightly rosary for him at their residence in Kagman.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the administration does not know if Cheney will visit the CNMI, but added that they would be grateful if the vice president included the commonwealth in his itinerary.
“We are not aware of any plans for Vice President Cheney to visit the CNMI — however, he is always welcome to visit our islands,” Reyes told Variety. “We would be very pleased to honor him with our hospitality.”
Vice Speaker Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, also expressed the hope that Cheney would visit the Northern Marianas.
“It would be an honor to have him here,” he said.
Cheney is set to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister John Howard to discuss Asia-Pacific security and the global war on terrorism.
Cheney served as defense secretary under then-President George H.W. Bush who, as vice president, was the highest national official to have visited the Northern Marianas.
He visited Saipan in Oct. 1985 for the dedication of the Commonwealth Health Center.