Moot point

Dear Congressman Tebuteb: Thank you for your concern referencing the July 8, 2011, general membership meeting of the Republican Party of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which you have registered as “unofficial GOP meeting.”

I have to respectfully beg to differ with your notion that the July 8 meeting is unofficial. It is official because the meeting was properly publicly announced in the newspaper. Unfortunately, there were only two Republican elected who attended the meeting.

And yes, you are correct that when I was the president of the Republican Party of the CNMI, I have always taken time to give prior notice to all the current sitting Republican Congress of some, if not all, of the activities the party would engage and/or plan to undertake or consider. You are also the very most, amongst all members, who would always acknowledge my message(s) and attend the function. But when only one, two or three of the current sitting congressmen are showing up, all good things must come to an end.

I personally regret that I did not inform you and the other sitting members of the Republican Congress about the publicly announced general membership meeting prior to its announcement. Please accept my personal apology to you.

Now, your concern referencing the blatant disregard of Article V, Section 13 of the Republican Party of the CNMI bylaws is, in my own opinion, moot. Please allow me to get the record straight.

In recent past (2005) the officers and members of the Republican Party have endorsed an individual who had previously run as an Independent candidate against the Republican Party candidates, to run under the Republican banner without compliance of any section of Article V of the GOP bylaws. He has not met the qualification as established under Article V, Section 11 and 13. The action taken by the former leadership of the party has also violated every section of Article V but it was OK.

Furthermore, back then, I know for a fact, as a very active member of the party and very active officer of the Precinct Club, that no Executive Committee was ever established to carry out the mandates of Article V. This blatant action was unanimously approved by the silent action of the former board members, officers of the party, sitting elected officials, and party members.

As an active member of the party, I do not remember any of the prior and current sitting members of the GOP Congress raise any issue with the blatant disregard of the GOP bylaws, Article IV, Section 13. I am disheartened that you have raised this issue now and not then. I wonder why? I strongly believe that the Republican Party of the CNMI has established a precedent in the recent past and as such, we shall continue to follow until such time that Article V, Section 18 has been fulfilled.

My good congressman, as I have publicly stated on three separate occasion through the newspaper, I am no longer affiliated with any political party. As such, Juan N. Babauta is the current president and state chairman of the Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands.

With all due respect!