Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, signed on Friday House Local Bill 17-16 which the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation unanimously passed last week.
Authored by Tenorio, the bill names an unnamed road in Mt. Tapotchau after Aiken, fondly known as “Chief Aiken,” in recognition of his efforts and dedication to keep the island safe.
The road leads to the residence of Aiken’s daughter, Keli and husband Norman Tenorio. It is about two-mile long and goes all the way to Papago.
It will be known as Chief Aiken Trail as soon as Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signs the local bill.
Keli Aiken Tenorio recalled that when her father came to the island in the early 1960’s, his first project was to get rid of unexploded ordnance in the northern area of Saipan.
With the help of 85 Chamorro and Carolinian crewmembers, Chief Aiken collected hundreds of thousands of pieces of ordnance, she added.
Norman Tenorio said it was also Chief Aiken who helped transform the Last Command Post into a tourist attraction.
According to Mrs. Tenorio, “We need to recognize those from the past who helped the island one way or another — those who made it a safer and a better place to live.”
Her father, she said, was one of these individuals and she was very proud and honored to have a trail named after him..
