The governor was sworn in by an associate chief justice, Alexandro C. Castro, and not, as in the past, by the chief justice, while Superior Court Associate Judge Perry B. Inos administered the oath to his uncle.
Fitial expressed gratitude for his re-election and vowed to work hard to deliver his promises of a better economy for the commonwealth.
“I am honored by the vote of confidence by the people….I am humbled to be the first governor re-elected since 1985,” he said.
Fitial won by only 84 votes in the four-way 2005 gubernatorial election, garnering 28 percent of the votes cast.
Last November, in another four-way race, he finished eight votes behind his Republican opponent, Heinz S. Hofschneider, who placed second in the 2005 polls.
But because no one among the four candidates secured a majority of the votes cast, a runoff was held, with Fitial securing 51 percent of the votes cast. His winning margin this time was 370 votes.
In 2005, Fitial promised to improve the economy and protect the CNMI’s control over immigration.
Under his leadership, however, the CNMI’s economy further deteriorated and immigration was finally taken over by the U.S. government.
His lawsuit challenging the federalization law was also dismissed by the federal court.
Yesterday, Fitial said his administration is now ready to build better relations with the federal government.
He said federal funding is very essential to keep the islands’ tourism-based economy afloat as well as to sustain numerous projects for the public.
He said the U.S. military buildup project on Guam will also impact the CNMI and is very important in reviving the islands’ economy.
“The military will play a large part in determining our future,” he said.
He urged all residents of the commonwealth to cooperate with ongoing U.S. Census projects in the CNMI as these will determine how much future appropriations the islands will get from the U.S. government.
Unity
With the CNMI in crisis, Fitial said unity is needed among politicians and the public that they serve.
“We will need community unity during turbulent economic times. We need everyone’s support. We need the Legislature. We need the private sector. We need the Legislature. We need our partners in the Pacific. We need our delegate in the U.S. Congress,” he added.
He noted that he and Inos have secured the support of Hofschneider and his running mate, former Speaker Arnold I. Palacios.
Hofschneider and Palacios went to the governor’s residence on Saturday.
Fitial, who promised ‘better times” during his first four years in office, said he expects his new five-year term to be rough.
But, he added, “we will never retreat nor surrender. It is not an option or a consideration.”
Inos, a former finance secretary, pledged to keep the administration fiscally responsible.
He said the administration will continue finding ways to improve vital public services and investment opportunities in the CNMI.
Fitial, who authored the law that paved the way for the creation of the CNMI’s guest-worker-dependent economy, vowed to find ways to allow guest workers to remain here despite the implementation of federal immigration law in the commonwealth.
The administration believes only a very small percentage of the estimated 16,000 foreign workers can be successfully admitted to U.S.-based employment programs when the federalization law’s transition phase ends.
In a separate interview, Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan said he’s happy that the governor made efforts to work with his office to address the numerous problems facing the commonwealth.
In a separate interview, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Anthony M. Babauta said he looks forward to a good working relationship with the Fitial administration.
“I look forward to working with Governor Fitial and also Lt. Governor Eloy Inos and also the new leadership of the Legislature — both the House and the Senate,” he said.
Palau President Johnson Toribiong, Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho, Guam first lady Joann Camacho, Office of Insular Affairs Director Nik Pula, Philippine Consul General Medardo C. Macaraig, Japanese Consul Tsutomo Higuchi, Chuuk Lt. Gov. Elimo Johnson, other officials from the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, military officials, private sector leaders and businessmen from across the region, among other dignitaries, attended the gubernatorial inauguration ceremony.
