THE municipal officials of Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota met on Friday, April 19, at the Koblerville Youth Center on Saipan to discuss a host of regional issues.
Present at the meeting of the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors, Vice Mayors and Elected Municipal Council Members or AMIM were Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Chair Marianne DLG Tudela, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Vice Chair Antonia Tudela, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Secretary Carmen Pangelinan, Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog, Rota Municipal Council Chair Jim Atalig, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Tinian Municipal Council Chair Joseph Santos, Tinian Municipal Council Vice Chair Ana San Nicolas, Tinian Municipal Council Secretary Esteban Cabrera, Asan-Maina Mayor Frankie Salas, Barrigada Vice Mayor Jesse Bautista, Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares, Hagat Mayor Kevin Susuico, Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf, Malesso Mayor Ernest Chargualaf, Mongmong-Toto-Maite Mayor Rudy Paco, Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Mayor Luise Rivera, Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Vice Mayor Albert Toves, Yona Mayor Bill Quenga, Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Taisacan and Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho.
They discussed, among other things, a sister-city relationship between Rota and Barrigada, Guam; a sister-city relationship between Saipan and a to-be-identified village on Guam; the upcoming 80th anniversary of World War II; and a presentation by Guam Visitors Bureau President and former Guam Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez regarding the inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.
The AMIM president, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, opened the meeting by saying that the municipal officials were gathered on Saipan because of a shared commitment to serve their respective communities.
“Your presence here today emphasizes the importance we face in collaboration in political action in addressing the diverse needs and challenges facing our islands,” he said.
Saipan Mayor RB Camacho said municipal officials are at the “frontlines” in the relationship between the government and residents.
“We promote care, understanding, trust, and respect. It’s a must,” he said.
The Saipan mayor said he is advocating on behalf of CNMI medical referral patients on Guam.
He asked that his colleagues from Guam consider how to help CNMI residents who need to do food shopping or move between villages while on Guam.
He said he also wants to collaborate on the economy as well.
“Let’s create a third industry, and this industry is the produce from the ocean and the produce from the land,” he said. “This is what we have, these are the two major resources we have. I’m looking forward to expanding the agricultural industry here. How can we work together to organize Rota, Saipan, Tinian and we export to Guam? These are the issues for today and I ask the leaders please let’s work on this because I think this is the industry that we really need,” Camacho said.
Saipan Mayor RB Camacho addresses his fellow members of the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors, Vice Mayors and Elected Municipal Officials at the Koblerville Youth Center on Friday.
Guam Visitors Bureau President and former Guam Gov. Carl T.C. Guitterez talks about the proposed inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.
A meeting of the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors, Vice Mayors and Elected Municipal Council Members was held at the Koblerville Youth Center on April 19, Friday.
The members of the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors, Vice Mayors and Elected Municipal Council Members or AMIM discuss regional issues at Koblerville Youth Center on Friday, April 19.
Saipan Mayor RB Camacho said the municipal officials of the CNMI and Guam “promote, care, understanding, trust, and respect. “
