THURSDAY, Dec. 8, marked the CNMI’s 46th Constitution Day.
“Forty-six years ago, our founding leaders came together with a shared dream of creating more freedoms, opportunities, and hopes for our islands,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said. “As the words of the Preamble state, ‘We the People of the Northern Mariana Islands,’ it signifies the beginning of our journey as a Commonwealth and our union with the United States of America. We dedicate this day toward honoring our Constitution, and the events that took place more than four decades ago in order to see a better future in which our islands prosper. Let us devote our time toward celebrating and reflecting upon the progressions of our Commonwealth. Have a safe and blessed Constitution Day, Marianas!”
For their part, Gov.-elect Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov.-elect David M. Apatang urged everyone to come together to celebrate a very significant day in the history of the Commonwealth.
They said the CNMI Constitution paved the way “for the creation of our government, and the progress we have made as a Commonwealth.”
Palacios and Apatang also urged everyone to remember the local leaders who drafted the Constitution. Through their hard work and sacrifices, “we became one Commonwealth as we are today.”
Sen. Paul A. Manglona, who was a member of the second constitutional convention in 1985, said it “was a long road [toward self-government] and I ask the people to remember those before us, those who sacrificed and worked hard to make the Commonwealth possible today.”
Manglona’s uncle, the late former Lt. Gov. Benjamin T. Manglona, was a member of the first and third constitutional conventions.
“Those who were part of…the first one went through the most challenges as they took a road that was not easy,” Sen. Manglona said.
“But because of their work, we are here today with the opportunity to control our own destiny for future generations.”
Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero said the “CNMI Constitution is the law of our land which we promise to uphold and protect.”
“We should not only reflect on the importance of this living document during its holiday, but on a daily basis. Our uniqueness as a U.S. Commonwealth exists in this very document for it not only provides us protection of our individual rights and freedom but also it allows us to navigate and chart the future of our lands as indigenous people today and for generations to come. It’s a personal relationship for us the people with our great mother, our Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,” she said.
The first NMI Constitutional Convention approved the Constitution on Dec. 5, 1976 and it was ratified by 93% of NMI voters on March 6, 1977. On Oct. 22, 1977, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed that the CNMI Constitution was deemed approved. It took effect on Jan. 9, 1978 with the inauguration of the CNMI government.
