Jesse Torres, the party chairman, said they will join the national party in August.
“It sounds promising. It will open doors for us,” said Torres.
Saturday’s gathering drew a small crowd of long-time Democrats, including former Gov. Carlos S. Camacho, former Reps. Justo S. Quitugua and Dino M. Jones.
Camacho said the Democratic Party always stood up for the rights and interest of the working class, which, he added, is now suffering under the ruling Covenant Party.
Torres said many administration policies are harming the public instead of helping them.
He cited as example the administration’s opposition to the 50-cent yearly increase in the islands’ hourly minimum wage.
He said increasing the islands’ minimum wage will encourage more locals to enter the private sector.
The current minimum wage is $4.55 an hour. By Sept. 30, this should be increased to $5.05.
The 50-cent annual wage increase will continue until the local rate reaches the federal level of $7.25 an hour in 2015.
“Nobody wants to work for $4.55 an hour. Is that all our worth when we come back after studying in the U.S.?” Torres said. “Stop delaying the minimum wage increase. Why are we blocking the 50-cent increase? Consumers will have more purchasing power and businesses will also benefit.”
“We need to be in touch with the issues in the CNMI. We want to see new faces to run for public office,” he added.
Quitugua said he’s happy that the Democratic Party is again actively getting involved in local politics.
The former lawmaker said the people should closely examine how their leaders are running their government to ensure that the CNMI survive a seemingly endless economic crisis.
The last time the Democratic Party won the gubernatorial election was in 1993. Last year, for the first time in CNMI history, it could not field a gubernatorial slate.
Founded by former GOP Chairman Benigno R. Fitial, the Covenant Party is now the CNMI’s other major party.
Fitial was elected governor in 2005 and was reelected in 2009.
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