The following is the text of his inaugural address delivered on Monday in the House chamber.
I WOULD like to take the opportunity to applaud the administration for the quarantine measures that have been instrumental in keeping the virus out of our community. While this measure may have presented difficulties for some, I believe the most will agree that we do find ourselves better off than most other places in the world. On this problem, at least for now, we should consider ourselves fortunate.
Rep. Vicente Camacho
This is historic day for the Democratic Party in the CNMI. It has been well over three decades since the party had real voice in our government. The results of this last election make it clear that the people do want change. They want a government that works for all the people, without regard to party loyalty. They want a government free of corruption. They want to have a voice in their government.
My hope for the 22nd Legislature is that the House, the Senate and the administration will join forces to keep our community free of the virus and maintain this spirit of cooperation in all of our deliberations. Let us put our political differences aside and work together for the best interest of the people.
Let is join forces and plan for our economic recovery. This is also a difficult challenge. We must start with the management of our scarce resources and move forward form there. We must consider the role of private business and help them with their economic recovery plan. It is the private business that produce the bulk of the CNMI’s revenue.
Let us join forces and ensure that this year all eligible community members can avail themselves of federal assistance. We have people who are suffering because of job losses and have no other means of surviving this economic crisis. We need to review our service process and implement procedures to ensure that all eligible applicants are properly reviewed provided for to the extent possible. This is our obligation to them.
Let us join forces and find workable solutions to get our children back in school. Our schools remain as remnants of Super Typhoon Yutu. This should already have been high on our priority list. The longer we wait, the more buildings will deteriorate and the more expensive they will be to repair.
Let us join forces and find workable solutions to get our government moving the right direction and prevent further corruption. It is our obligation to improve the operations and functions of service to our commonwealth. To protect our constitutional rights our Covenant and our laws. Enforcing our laws and providing equal representation is the people’s right and our government’s obligation.
Let us join forces and make the CNMI world’s best tourist destination. The entire island should be kept clean: our villages, the downtown area and the tourist sites. And we should promote uniqueness of our multi-cultural community.
Finally, let us join forces and find a workable solution to bring back integrity or our people, our culture and our traditions. We have a unique and diverse community. Cultural representation and tradition should be explored and introduced as one of our strategies in promoting the CNMI.
