By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

AFTER waiting for many years to have a public place where they can regularly hold meetings, the members of the Palauan community on Saipan got their wish and now work has begun for the construction of their “abai.”
The abai, which is Palauan for meeting place, will be located on Navy Hill.
The Palauans praised Gov. Benigno R. Fitial for allowing them to use public land for their abai.
Frank Reksid, a former classmate of the governor, said Palauans have made a similar request to previous governors.
“They were sweet and smiling but there was no result,” said Reksid who hosted their group’s gathering at the site for the groundbreaking ceremony.
“This has been our dream gone through many administrations but Ben made it happen,” he added. “This is a living legacy for the CNMI people and the Palauan community.”
Rufino Aguon, president of the association, said the abai will help the Palauan community promote their culture even if they are away from their homeland.
He said Fitial will now be known to the Palauans as “Uncle Ben.”
“We cannot thank you (enough),” he said to the governor on behalf of their association. “Your generosity will never be forgotten.”
Fitial said his relationship with Palau goes as far as when the islands were still under the Trust Territory government.
Visiting Palau President Tommy Remengesau said the abai should hold together the Palauans in the CNMI.
He pledged $25,000 for their project’s construction.
“Saipan is my home away from home,” he said. “I stayed here when my father was working for the Trust Territory government. Saipan is a good home for our people. An abai will always represent the culture of our people and it will bring together the Palauans.”
The Palau president expressed hope that his people, who are based in the CNMI, will treasure the land that the commonwealth government allowed them to use perpetually.
“This is your abai. It will not be a government abai. All of you become stakeholders here,” he said.
There are more than 1,500 Palauans in the CNMI.