By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
PRECINCT 2 Reps. John Paul P. Sablan and Danny I. Aquino, along with their staffers, conducted cleanup and beautification activities earlier this week in the vicinity of the old government center in Susupe.
Once the site of the Office of the Governor and Legislature during the earlier years of the Commonwealth, this portion of Susupe now hosts the Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division, the Office of the Public Defender, the Commonwealth Election Commission, the Governor Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center, the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, and the CNMI Judiciary.
Sablan and Aquino, together with their office staff and community volunteers, cut overgrown grass and cleared vegetation across the area. The result: a government site that is visually appealing, free of trash, and safe for the public.
“It is part of our ongoing efforts to promote a clean, safe, and welcoming community,” Aquino said.
The team focused on the surroundings of the multi-purpose center, the Office of the Public Defender, the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division, DPS, CEC, and the Joeten-Kiyu library. These facilities, Aquino and Sablan noted, fall within their legislative precincts and are highly visible to residents and visiting tourists, as they are located along a major roadway across from a prominent hotel.
“These government buildings and grounds are seen daily by residents and visitors alike. Maintaining clean surroundings is important not only for public safety but also because tourism is everyone’s business,” Sablan said.
Aquino added that the grass-mowing work has been completed, with additional bush-cutting scheduled for Saturday. Remaining work will focus on the area in front of the parking lot and will be carried out while government offices are closed to avoid disruption.
Looking ahead, Aquino and Sablan said they plan to continue their collaborative cleanup efforts. On Thursday, the lawmakers and their staff worked alongside Division of Parks and Recreation Director Mike Cruz along Airport Road, removing remaining overgrown vegetation on the roadside.
They expressed appreciation to their staff for their dedication and willingness to serve beyond regular duties. “We are grateful to our teams for their hard work and commitment. Their support makes these community efforts possible,” Aquino said.
Their offices also extended special birthday wishes to staff member Ken Kaneshi, who spent his birthday assisting with the cleanup. Despite the occasion, Kaneshi enthusiastically contributed, reflecting the spirit of service shared by the entire team.
Aquino and Sablan reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining clean public spaces and working with government partners to enhance community pride and support the island’s tourism industry.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
