THE next public forum will be on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Chacha Oceanview Junior High School, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
According to Tina Sablan, this forum will build on the discussions of the previous forums, and participants are requested to have new information or insights to share. New issues may also be suggested for discussion.
If you have formed, or would like to form, a new action group and would like to share information about it or invite others to join, you are welcome to do so at the next forum.
The new CNMI Public Forum Web site is already online and interactive — visit www.thecnmi.com. Feel free to post comments, add new issues and share information with fellow users.
Marianas High School senior Kelvin Rodeo has announced his plans to coordinate forums for high school students. Details are forthcoming. For more information, e-mail wadaiko.freak@gmail.com.
Florence Kirby announced that she is forming a neighborhood crime watch group, and is calling for volunteers.
Steve Tilley called for volunteers to help coordinate village meetings so that members of the community can participate in the drafting of the Saipan land use plan. This plan will help guide future economic and social development for the island. For more information, contact Steve at 234-9663, or e-mail steve.tilley@zoning.gov.mp.
Quite a few people have suggested that the forum route include Tinian and Rota.
If anyone would like to help coordinate these forums, e-mail tinasablan@gmail.com.
The primary purpose of these forums is to provide a place for all members of the community to honestly, openly, and respectfully identify and discuss the numerous economic, social, and political issues facing the CNMI.
All views on all issues are welcome, as long as they are within the limits of the ground rules, and participants are encouraged to form their own action groups to focus on the issues that are most important to them, and to share information from those action groups at the general forums.
Although not all issues can be adequately discussed in a single forum, the forums will be a continuing and progressive effort for at least the rest of the year, and possibly longer.
It should also be noted that the forums are a work in progress — and suggestions for improvement are most welcome.
There will be more focused “mini-forums” to highlight specific issues in the coming months. Anyone who has suggestions for topics and/or would like to help coordinate these mini-forums may e-mail tinasablan@gmail.com.