There is also reason for reflection on this day. We reflect and look at the many opportunities that have opened up for our people and our advancement as a community. Yes, there has been and there always will be issues of contention, but this is to be expected in any political relationship.
But, generally, no one can dispute with reason that the political relationship that we have under the Covenant has and will continue to be fundamental to the political, social and economic development or our people and islands.
And this is a good reason to celebrate.
It is also on this date that we remember and give tribute to those among our people who brought us this agreement. And so we give tribute to Messrs. Edward DLG. Pangelinan, Vicente N. Santos, Juan LG. Cabrera, Vicente T. Camacho, Jose R. Cruz, Bernard V. Hofschneider, Benjamin T. Manglona, Daniel T. Muna, Dr.
Francisco T. Palacios, Joaquin I. Pangelinan, Manuel A. Sablan, Joannes B. Taimanao, and Pedro A. Tenorio for their hard work and their leadership in negotiating the best possible agreement for all of us. We also give tribute to Congressman Phillip Burton and Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams for carrying out the negotiations and the Covenant’s approval by the United States Congress and President Ford.
But so that we do not forget, we must recognize that this was an agreement between a people and a government. The people of the Northern Mariana Islands deserve a huge credit for approving the agreement in a plebiscite and then embracing the political status as a way of life.
A generation of citizens, those born in 1976 when the agreement took effect, are now 33 years old. They have experienced no other political status besides Commonwealth. They have benefitted from this status and must, therefore, continue to help improve our communities so that the generation to come 33 years from now can see that the advancement we make in the next three decades move us forward at a pace that is even greater than the past 33 years.
This is what our community should be. This is what we owe ourselves. This is what we owe our future generations. This is our way of life. This is the very essence of the Covenant.
I will continue to do my part here in Congress. And so that both the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States continue to recognize the importance we all place in our political relationship, I will request that the flag of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands be flown and displayed atop the United States Capitol on every Commonwealth-Covenant Day beginning in 2011.
Congratulations Northern Mariana Islands.
Happy Covenant and Commonwealth Day to each and every one of you.
GREGORIO KILILI
CAMACHO SABLAN
Member, U.S. Congress
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