THE Tinian municipal government has erected a statue of the Micronesian Starling or “Paluman Sali” at the roundabout in San Jose village.
Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan poses next to a statue of a Micronesian Starling or “Paluman Sali” at the San Jose roundabout on Tinian Monday.
In an interview on Tuesday, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan said the statue was completed on Monday just in time for Tinian’s annual Hot Pepper Festival set for Feb. 17 and 18.
According to Tinian Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, the Sali is known for spreading hot pepper or doni seeds throughout the northern part of Tinian. The Tinian Doni Sali, he added, is believed to be the spiciest hot pepper in Micronesia.
In the previous Legislature, San Nicolas introduced House Local Bill 22-15 to prohibit the hunting of the Micronesian Starling on Tinian until Jan. 1, 2026.
“There is a correlation between the survival of the sali and the survival of our Tinian doni,” San Nicolas sad. “Indeed, gut-passed hot pepper seeds emerge sooner and at a higher proportion than seeds from the whole hot pepper.”
The Tinian Legislative Delegation did not act on the bill.
