THE divert airfield project broke ground on Tinian, Tuesday, with CNMI and military officials hailing the close ties between the Commonwealth and the nation’s armed forces.
In their remarks, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Brig. Gen. Jeremy Sloane, commander, 36th Wing Anderson Air Force Base, both emphasized the value of the long history of partnership between the Northern Marianas and the U.S. military.
On behalf of the U.S. Air Force, Sloane expressed “how much we value our over 75-year partnership with…the Northern Mariana Islands.”
“We are especially grateful for support of the Tinian community, that enables us to conduct safe and effective flying training across the island and throughout the airspace,” he said.
The Tinian divert development project, Sloane said, is the largest and most important Air Force project in the region.
“Its airfield, roadway, port, and pipeline improvements will provide vital strategic operational and exercise capabilities for U.S. forces, and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” he said.
He added that the Air Force is committed to a safe and sustainable presence and partnership with the CNMI that honors and preserves Tinian’s natural and historical resources for future generations.
According to CNMI Bureau of Military Affairs, the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday kicked off two of the five phases of the project: the phase 1 divert airfield development and the divert parking apron on Tinian.
Milestone
The governor said the CNMI was honored by the presence of Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S Indo-Pacific Command, as well as his delegation that included Senior Enlisted Leader James Honea, Foreign Policy Advisor Jennifer Galt, and Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto.
Torres likewise acknowledged the presence of Sloane, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander, Joint Region Marianas, and Capt. Timothy Liberatore, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command or NAVFAC Marianas.
“Thank you for joining us here today on this monumental celebration,” the governor said.
“It brings me great pleasure to be back on Tinian once again celebrating yet another milestone of cooperation and progress among the people of this great island, our Commonwealth, and the U.S. Department of Defense,” he added.
He noted that the investment being made on the island “is truly unique, being not just one of the largest military construction projects in the CNMI in generations, but because of what it means to the resiliency of our nation and our people.”
The governor likewise recognized Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan “for his team’s tireless efforts to support the people of Tinian and our nation, advancing the long tradition of true leaders of Tinian that recognize their critical role in the development of the islands while maintaining true to the needs and aspirations of the residents there.”
Torres added, “Tinian truly has a tradition of fostering leaders of our islands. Senate President Jude Hofschneider, Sen. Francisco Cruz, Sen. Karl Nabors, Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, and Municipal Chairman Joseph Santos. This is further seen in the work of Commonwealth Ports Authority chairwoman and daughter of Tinian, Kimberly King-Hinds, who has been instrumental in securing this lasting development on the Tinian airport, and this investment for the people of Tinian and our Commonwealth.”
He said the divert airfield project, and the continued work of the U.S. Air Force in developing the airfield, can be of real benefit for the people of Tinian. “I truly believe that what is good for Tinian, what is good for Rota, what is good for Saipan, what is good for the Northern Islands, benefits all of the Commonwealth,” he said.
And for that reason, he said he is also proud and appreciative of the work of the CNMI government regulatory and permitting agencies that have taken the task of finding solutions to see lasting development here become a reality.
Not invited
During the House session on Capital Hill on Tuesday, Democrat Rep. Vicente Camacho, who chairs the House Committee on Federal & Foreign Affairs, said the Torres administration did not inform his committee about the groundbreaking ceremony on Tinian.
He said the administration’s Bureau of Military Affairs should inform his committee “of matters like this that are taking place in the CNMI.”
According to the House leadership, none of them were informed about the event on Tinian.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Sen. Victor Hocog and Sen. Frank Cruz, center, pose for a photo with U.S Indo-Pacific Command Adm. John C. Aquilino, Senior Vice President and General Manager Leonard Kaae of Black Construction Corporation and other members of the Indo-Pacific Command delegation.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Adm. John C. Aquilino of the U.S Indo-Pacific Command, Sen. Frank Cruz, Senior Enlisted Leader James Honea, Maj. Gen. Mark A. Hashimoto, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, Brig. Gen. Jeremy Sloane, Capt. Timothy Liberatore and Capt. Kimberly Hofschneider participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the divert airfield project on Tinian Tuesday.
