Yesterday, the mayor led the turnover of prizes for this year’s Liberation Day raffle.
“I’m glad that we have this accountability and that we’ve taken it seriously,” he said.
Providing the community a financial accounting of government-sponsored events, the mayor added, ensures transparency.
“The public needs to know,” he said.
Terri Camacho, the mayor’s fiscal and budget officer, said they are now preparing the final financial statement of the Liberation festivities.
She said they estimated to have incurred more than $57,000 in expenses, which is an over 50 percent drop from last year’s $136,000.
Camacho said the Liberation Day Committee is still uncertain how much it can get from the $45,000 appropriated by the cash-strapped government for this year’s festivities.
Saipan Local Law 17-9 allotted $3 million of which $45,000 is for the Liberation Day, but the amount will be provided only after the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance gets its funding which will come from poker license fee collections.
But Camacho is confident the mayor’s office “can pay all debts and not owe anyone.”
She said they still have to pay some of the entertainers, food coupons and utilities.
However, they have already awarded the major raffle prizes to the winners.
Yesterday, Vincent Kaipat received the $3,000 grand prize at the mayor’s office where he was accompanied by wife Davina and son Isaiah.
He said he bought 15 tickets from his cousin, Liberation Queen candidate Nizelynn Masayos, who was crowned Royal Princess.
The other winners were Enrico Roque, $2,000 baby grand prize; Anna Castro, $1,000 first prize; and Chole Lizama, roundtrip ticket from Delta Airlines.
Flores congratulated again this year’s Liberation Queen candidates for supporting the festivities.
“They really worked hard to help the event,” he said, referring to Liberation Queen Joni Castro, Masayos and 1st Runner-up Mariah Ada.
