Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, lawmakers, Royal Court candidates and members of the Liberation Day Committee cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of the 79th Liberation Day festivities at the Civic Center in Susupe on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
AT the opening ceremony of the 79th Liberation Day festivities on Thursday in Susupe, Saipan Mayor Ramon RB Camacho said the event was an “opportunity for our community to come together as one people.”
“As I look out [at] the sea of faces in the crowd tonight, I see many people [from] many different backgrounds, ages, genders and ethnicities,” he said. “This is the main reason we have these festivities. Not only do we honor the freedom granted to our people, but we also celebrate the unity and the strength of our diverse community.”
This year, the Liberation Day Carnival is located at the Civic Center, adjacent to the 500 Sails Guma Sakman and across from Marianas High School.
Camacho said the newly improved Beach Road, along with sufficient parking at Ada Gym, the Guma’ Hustisia, and the multi-purpose center, contributed to the decision to relocate the carnival grounds to Susupe.
Previous carnivals were held at the Garapan Fishing Base.
The mayor also noted Susupe’s historic significance.
“Seventy-nine years ago, our forefathers [were] liberated [from the] camp in this area,” he said.
“Seventy-nine years ago, as our island lay in [ruins] following the war, our people back then had no idea what the future would be. They might have wondered what would become of the future generation and what would happen to our home island. Seventy-nine years later, we now see that our community has grown stronger, closer, has continued to advance in the modern world while still honoring our tradition, culture, and our history. However, yet again, our islands find themselves on the international stage caught in between the struggle of major powers in the Asia-Pacific region as we contend with rising tension in our neighborhood. Our economy and industry continue to struggle, while many of our businesses have been forced to shut down …. What we can promise you is that whatever is thrown at us, whatever obstacles and challenges we have to go through and endure, we will never give up serving our community. The hard times we are currently going through only strengthen our resolve to overcome these hardships and bring us back to better times. However, we cannot do it by ourselves. We need your support, and the community. Most importantly, we all need to be united. We must all make this effort to connect with our community and help each other in these hard times.”
Liberation Day marks the permanent closure of civilian internment camps on July 4, 1946. On that day, Chamorros and Carolinians, former subjects of Japan, were released by the American forces from Camp Chalan Kanoa, where they had been held as World War II drew to a close.
Liberation Day is celebrated concurrently with the nation’s Independence Day.
This year’s theme is “Weaving Heritage and Embracing Peace.”
The Liberation Carnival, which has 37 concessionaires, will be open on Thursdays and Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The festivities will conclude on July 6.
