The credentials committee headed by Ike Demapan presented 294 names, and those selected will be engraved and displayed at the courtyard in Chalan Kanoa across from the U.S. Post Office.
Yesterday, the leadership memorial courtyard committee chaired by former Rep. Ana S. Teregeyo approved the initial list.
After the publication of these names, Demapan said the committee is expecting more nominees.
He said the credentials committee will continue to discreetly review and examine nominees because “we are dealing here with the honor of families.”
During yesterday’s meeting, committee consultant former Rep. William S. Torres noted the exclusion of the names of the Third Constitutional Convention delegates.
The committee said it didn’t find any of the names in the CNMI Archives or the Commonwealth Election Office.
Teregeyo described the lack of information as a “mystery.”
No one mentioned consulting the back issues of this newspaper which was established in 1972. The Third Constitutional Convention convened in 1995 and its president was former Rep. Herman T. Guerrero, a current member of the Board of Education.
Torres recommended the inclusion at least four names of the delegates whom he remembered: John Oliver Gonzales, Lilian S. Ada Tenorio, Marian DLG. Aldan-Pierce and Joaquin Agustin Tenorio.
Torres also volunteered to conduct research to get the names of all the delegates.
Demapan also recommended the inclusion of Felix A. Ayuyu, a member of the First (1976) Constitutional Convention.
Credentials committee member Vicente T. Camacho, for his part, recommended the inclusion of Gabriel Flores Borja, Jesus Diaz Sablan, Juan Manibusan Diaz and Jose Quitugua Deleon Guerrero.
Helen Taro Atalig was likewise recommended for inclusion.
Regarding the lack of middle names of some of the nominees, Frances Muna, leadership municipal courtyard committee secretary and treasurer, said they have checked the old records of the former Board of Elections and learned that some “illegitimate” children decided to use their mother’s last name.
“We did an extensive search for their middle names,” Demapan said.
In its next meeting, the committee will further review possible new nominees, including judges appointed during the pre-commonwealth period.
For more information, call the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council office at 664-2700 or email [email protected]
