Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores said the grand marshals are Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz, Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola, Daniel O. Kaipat of the Northern Islands and Ruth Coleman of Saipan.
Kaipat, a U.S. Marine, was nominated by Northern Islands Mayor Tobias DLC. Aldan, while Flores nominated Coleman, the former executive officer of the CNMI Military and Veterans Affairs Office.
Flores’ executive secretary Vinycia Seman said Coleman accepted her nomination on Wednesday afternoon.
There will be no Battle of the Bands during the Fourth of July festivities.
Last year, the committee revived the competition after it was stopped eight years ago.
But Gloriana Teuira, Liberation Day entertainment committee chairwoman, said they cannot hold competition this year because of funding issue.
Liberation Day Committee chairman Jonas Barcinas said they were hoping to receive $45,000 for the festivities.
House Local Bill 17-33 appropriates $45,000 for Liberation Day, but Barcinas said he was told by the administration that the actual amount will be $20,000 only.
However, the $25,000 will be given later so the committee can pay its bills, he added.
“We want to hold these events without owing and disappointing anybody,” Barcinas said.
Donald Crisostomo, parade and float committee chairman, said they have 10 groups of marchers and five floats including that of the 2011 Miss Liberation Queen and her court.
Each group is allowed to perform three minutes while the parade is in progress to prevent traffic jam.
The committee, Crisostomo said, will collaborate with 27 traffic officers from the Department of Public Safety assigned to different intersections to maintain ground and crowd control.
There will be no fireworks display because of insufficient funds, he added.
Last year’s display was not sanctioned by the committee and was initiated by a private firm, he said.
