Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumor, Covenant-Saipan, and Carolinian Affairs Office Executive Assistant Angie Iginoef Mangarero signed a memorandum of agreement last March 2 to convert the office into a center that will benefit members of the community particularly youth and women’s groups.
Situated on land owned by the Mangarero family, the office building served former residents of the Northern Islands who now live and work on Saipan.
The last occupant of the building was then-Northern Islands Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan whose term ended in Jan. 2010.
The new mayor, Tobias DLC. Aldan, who narrowly defeated Taisakan’s cousin, Ramona T. Rebuenog, in the 2009 elections, did not use the building and instead moved to the former district office of the Washington representative on Capital Hill.
The memorandum of agreement allows the vice speaker to be the administrator or occupant of the center. It authorizes her to conduct community development projects and activities there for a period of five years but this “may be renewed from time to time.”
The center can also be used for other future developments and the MOA can be terminated upon 30 days of written notice.
On Monday last week, 20 sailors from the USS Chancelorsville cleaned up the building as part of their community service while their ship was docked at the local port.
Ogumoro, in an interview, said it was her plan to open a community development center for the island’s youth and women.
She wants them to have a venue for their meetings and other activities.
As the administrator of the center, her office will be responsible for the connection and payment of utilities, phone and other related services.
