FORMER Gov. Juan N. Babauta was honored in a ceremony organized by Saipan Mayor Ramon RB Camacho to rename Chalan Windward in Talofofo after the CNMI’s sixth chief executive on Thursday.
Now known as Gov. Juan N. Babauta Blvd., the road passes Kingfisher Golf Links and connects Talofofo Road to Chalan Kalabera.
“Today we honor the leader whose dedication [and] strong partnership have made a lasting impact on our Commonwealth,” Mayor Camacho said in his remarks. “His effort [in securing funding for the construction of this road] has enhanced accessibility [and] safety, benefiting both our residents and visitors for generations to come. This … area has been idle for so many years. Now the landlords in this area can benefit from it.”
Camacho said he has shown the boulevard to potential investors, some of whom have expressed interest in developing the area.
“For the landlords …, in the future, you’re going to see this [area] well developed by a possible hotel or other business,” Camacho said.
Babauta, who was governor from January 2002 to January 2006, said federal funds for the road construction were first made available under his administration.
Babauta said he worked with the late Republican Congressman Don Young of Alaska, who included the funds for the road as a line item in a measure meant for Alaska.
“It has been a long time coming and I’m glad finally that we have this road because this is not only good for our own people here, but it is also good for our tourism industry. Our visitors can now actually, literally, almost drive around the island,” Babauta said.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios led a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the road in September 2023.
With his wife Charlene T. Babauta, former Gov. Juan N. Babauta unveils a road sign that bears his name in a ceremony organized by the Mayor’s Office of Saipan on Thursday.
Former Gov. Juan N. Babauta and his wife Charlene pose with Saipan Mayor RB Camacho, family members and friends near the road sign that bears the former governor’s name
