This was the statement of Irene N. Tantiado, the group’s president, who left Saipan early this month for her now job assignment in Laos and Cambodia.
Tantiado is Bridge Capital LLC’s comptroller and will be assigned to a newly opened casino hotel of the company.
“My departure from Saipan doesn’t mean that I will not be advocating for the CNMI workers,” Tantiado said. “I left my heart on Saipan.”
The group’s vice president, Rabby Syed, is now the acting president and they have yet to decide if they will elect a new set of officers.
But Syed said the group will meet on Sunday to elect a new president.
Denying that she “abandoned” her group, Tantiado said they have programs already lined up for 2009, and “I will be communicating with my counterparts on Saipan and monitor the developments there.”
Before she left, she said her group met and discussed her new role that would allow her to continue her advocacy. The group also decided what programs to implement this year.
She said guest workers may continue sending their concerns through e-mail: .
While in Laos, Tantiado said she will try to help displaced CNMI guest workers for possible jobs in Cambodia, and secure financial assistance from the Filipino community for the legal needs of guest workers.
“I realize that I will not be able to please everyone but I gave my best when I was there and I gave a good fight,” Tantiado said.
In a separate interview, Syed said their group will pursue the programs initiated by Tantiado.
He said they will also maintain the good cooperation among the members and officers of their group.
