SENATOR Edith Deleon Guerrero, her office staff and Division of Youth Services officials led by Administrator Vivian Sablan were at Joeten Superstore in San Jose on Monday to buy a brand-new swing set for the children at the DYS emergency shelter.
It was the donation to DYS children that Deleon Guerrero has made using her office funds.
Last month, she used a large portion of the $18,000 in exclusive casino license fee that her office received to buy and donate 40 bicycles and 53 scooters with helmets to the children at the DYS shelter and youth centers.
In an April 28, 2022, memorandum, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chairman, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan, informed members that about $400,000 in casino license fee collection had been appropriated for Saipan projects, and that each of the delegation members would receive $18,000 for their respective community projects.
According to Rep. John Paul Sablan, the funds were the Saipan delegation’s share of the casino license fee that Imperial Pacific International paid in fiscal year 2019 but was borrowed by the administration for the CNMI’s Covid-19 pandemic response in 2020. The administration had already returned the money to the delegation.
Children deserve the best
Senator Deleon Guerrero said when she donated the bicycles and scooters last month, she made a promise that if her office had enough for operations, she would also purchase a swing set for DYS children.
She did review her office budget and saw that there was enough for the swing set so “that is exactly what I did.”
“The thing is, I truly believe that our kids, CNMI-wide, deserve a playground that is safe for them, especially for the children under the care of DYS. We want them to know there are people out there that truly care for them and truly love them, and they are not different from any other kids that are outside playing. We can definitely afford to do something, like similar equipment for them as well so they can also enjoy the playground,” Deleon Guerrero said.
She said in her younger days, she loved to babysit her nieces and nephews. And when she became a mother herself, she dedicated a lot of her time to her children, she added.
“I really feel a lot for kids, and again, these children in the entire CNMI deserve all the best that we could give as government,” Deleon Guerrero said.
Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, third right, with Division of Youth Services Administrator Vivian Sablan, left, and DYS staff next to a brand new playhouse and swing set at Joeten Superstore in San Jose on Monday. With them are DYS staffers Grace Babauta, fifth right back row; Kevin Deleon Guerrero, center; Children’s Shelter Supervisor Junne Masga, second right; and child protective services staff member Melycher Sablan, second left.
