But Municipal Council Chairwoman Antonia M. Tudela said the leadership memorial will definitely include the names of Saipan’s elected leaders in the commonwealth era.
“We are very careful and sensitive in the selection process,” she told Variety.
The municipal council, in a press statement, said the memorial will include “significant” appointed and elected mayors, Marianas district leaders, police chiefs as well as elected or appointed representatives.
“While the memorial will be updated in the future as new leaders are added, the planning committee would like to see the first listing of names on the memorial to be as accurate as possible,” the municipal council said.
On Sept. 24, the committee will proceed with the unveiling and groundbreaking of the memorial courtyard project even as it continues accepting names for possible inclusion in the memorial.
Tudela said the committee was able to raise $300,000 for the project, which includes the construction of a parking lane, a sidewalk, perimeter lighting, a stormwater reserve, a memorial courtyard, a gateway and other facilities.
The courtyard, also known as the Kios Ku project, will be the first leadership memorial park to be constructed in the CNMI.
It aims to highlight and recognize the contributions of the island’s past and present leaders.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, Tudela said the committee will meet to decide on the proposals regarding the names submitted so far.
The committee is asking the families of past leaders to submit names, titles and any other pertinent information related to the individuals and their positions.
The form is available at the municipal council and at the NMI Museum of History and Culture. The form can be faxed by request.
Names and information may be submitted in person, or may be faxed to 664-2170 or e-mailed to [email protected] or [email protected].
The initial deadline for the first round of submission of names and information was Sept. 18 but the committee will continue to accept nominations until Sept. 24, 2010.
