Frank Tudela, the logistics and transportation committee chairman, said “financial constraint” is the reason why there will be no fireworks this Friday.
Last year’s opening day fireworks caused an accident that injured several individuals.
Sunleader, the company that provided the fireworks, the Saipan mayor’s office and the Liberation Day Committee were sued by the victims.
For this year’s opening day, Manuel C. Tenorio, the overall chairman of the Liberation Day Committee, will speak about the theme “Great Hope, Wisdom and Through Liberation.”
Mayor Juan B. Tudela cannot be present during the grand opening as he is joining the students headed to Seoul, South Korea for an exchange program.
Today, the Liberation Day Committee will meet to finalize the program and other activities, particularly the fireworks for July 4.
There will be a fireworks display if funds are available, Variety was told.
On July 4, a long stretch of Beach Road will be closed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to make way for traditional parade.
The logistics and transportation committee will install trash bins in all strategic areas a day before the grand opening of the celebration on Friday, Tudela said.
“Everything is now in place —including the crowd control,” he added.
Olinka C. Chaudhry, Liberation Day Committee secretary, said 30 vendors have secured concessions for the carnival booths.
They can start displaying and selling their wares ahead of the grand opening, she said.
Chaudhry said the nightly bingo games have already started at the Garapan Fishermen Base, across from the Kristo Rai Church.
