Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero smiles as she delivers her farewell address during the sine die session on Friday.
TWO outgoing senators thanked the CNMI people, their colleagues, their staff and the Legislative Bureau for helping them serve the Commonwealth.
During the Senate’s sine die session on Friday, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero and Sen. Paul A. Manglona also shared their thoughts and hopes about the CNMI’s current situation.
Deleon Guerrero, who unsuccessfully sought a second term, said although they have not addressed all the pieces of legislation before them, she was most appreciative of the work of the Senate committees on numerous bills that the senators passed with diligence.
The CNMI is in serious financial dilemma and is in dire need of an economic recovery plan that can bring in fresh capital, she added.
She is hopeful that the incoming 24th Senate will not remain idle but will work toward recovery goals in unison with private sector initiatives, while balancing military buildup activities.
She mentioned the “dark alleys” in the Garapan tourist district, adding that “we should be very concerned that our CNMI business revenue sources are rapidly diminishing before our eyes.”
The once thriving real estate commercial market is now like a ghost town with no tenants, she said, referring to some areas in Garapan.
She added that the infusion of State Small Business Credit Initiative funds from the federal government should be accelerated to assist existing or newly formed businesses in need of working capital.
Earlier last year, the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority announced the approval of up to $57 million in federal SSBCI funds to support loan guarantees, loan participation, and collateral support programs.
Deleon Guerrero said the push for greater transparency and accountability in the CNMI’s financial and market valuation is equally important.
“The CNMI people’s lives are dependent on their government’s ability to build a strong and prosperous economy where every family can achieve economic security including employment at least at the levels they feel comfortable and content with. We owe it to the CNMI people now, today and into the future,” Deleon Guerrero said.
She expressed her “most humble thanks and much respect” to her colleagues, as well as the LB staff and management, “for the work they do.”
She also thanked her staff “for keeping our busy office afloat,” and extended her “deep respect and sincere thanks” to the CNMI people for allowing her to serve them over the past four years.
Manglona, whose effort to win another term fell short, said: “I’ve been sitting in this chair since 1988 so I don’t have a speech. I just want to say thank you to the people of the Commonwealth, especially my dear people of Rota for giving me this honor to serve over the decades.”
He also thanked his “good colleagues,” his staff, and the LB team.
“It’s 2025, and we are very hopeful,” he added. “We look forward to doing good things for our people who are suffering out there. I have a lot of hope that in the next year, and after that, we are going to do greater things. There is nowhere to go but up,” Manglona said.
