SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang on Friday led the unveiling of a new street name on Capital Hill in honor of the late local farmer Vicente “Ben Dinga” Tudela Camacho.
The street, previously known as Sariguan St., is now Ben Dinga Way.
Among Ben Dinga’s children are Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, former Reps. Claudio Norita and George N. Camacho.
An electrician by training but also a farmer, Ben Dinga and wife Marcella Lieto Norita, along with their nine children, productively used and cultivated the land surrounding the road named after him, and built the CNMI’s first commercial poultry farm.
“In our island community, we identify places by the name of a person or family that uses the land to raise a family, plant crops, raise animals and bring other family members from other places together, to catch up on life, events in the community, share family stories and so forth,” Apatang said during the street-naming ceremony.
The mayor said Ben Dinga grew a variety of food crops and raised many farm animals in the area.
“Ben Dinga knew that our precious land was the most valuable asset we have to feed our families. In fact, he developed the CNMI’s first commercial chicken farm, an operation that supplied poultry and eggs to residents in the CNMI,” Apatang said.
The mayor described Ben Dinga as a “Titan” since he also had to raise a family and feed his children while serving the residents of the CNMI. “It was an arduous task but he never gave up,” the mayor said.
Judge Camacho, on behalf of the children of Ben Dinga and Marcella Camacho, extended a heartfelt thank you to Mayor Apatang. “It touched our family’s heart by having this road named after our father…. This will remind our family for generations to come as they come here and visit the land that he worked on for many years and carry on.”
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, left, looks on as former Rep. Claudio Norita, second right, unveils the brand-new street sign in honor of Vicente “Ben Dinga” Tudela Camacho on Friday on Capital Hill. Also shown are the other children of Ben Dinga: Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Isidoru Camacho and Loling Camacho.
From left, former Rep. George N. Camacho, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Isidoru Camacho, his wife Melissa, daughter Chela and a niece, former Rep. Claudio Norita, and Loling Camacho stand next to the street sign that honors the late Vicente “Ben Dinga” Tudela Camacho.
