Chamber postpones gubernatorial forum

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has postponed its Gubernatorial Forum originally scheduled last night at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

Chamber executive director Jill Arenovski said they are shooting for a Thursday date for the forum, which will give Gov. Eloy S. Inos time to return from the Philippines, where he is undergoing a “routine medical procedure.”

“The return of Gov. Inos has been delayed by a few days, and the campaigns of both Edward M. Deleon Guerrero and Heinz S. Hofschneider have requested a postponement until such time as the governor is able to attend. Juan N. Babauta was willing to fulfill his commitment to attend but has also agreed to a postponement so that all campaigns can get their policies and platforms out to the public in a fair and equal format,” Arenovski said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Arenovski said a lot of people have been really looking forward to the Gubernatorial Forum and it would be a disservice to the voting public and the community in general if the event pushes through with not all candidates present.

She earlier said the Gubernatorial Forum had been sold out as early three weeks ago.

The 2014 general elections will have Inos and his running mate, Senate President Ralph Torres, running under the CNMI Republic Party banner.

The GOP duo will be challenged by the independent team of former governor Babauta and his running mate, former senator Juan Torres; the independent team of former House speaker Hofschneider and his running mate, former Senate floor leader Ray N. Yumul; and the Democratic Party team of former Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Edward “Tofila” M. Deleon Guerrero and his running mate, former representative Daniel Quitugua.

Like the Senatorial Forum held last Oct. 15, the Gubernatorial Forum will have the moderator picking five random questions from a set of questions submitted days before the event.

Each gubernatorial candidate will then be given 3 minutes to give his 2 cents worth on the issue and another minute for rebuttal if needed.

For those who will be missing out on the Gubernatorial Forum, the Chamber said that Flametree TV will be videotaping the proceeding and will air it afterward.

Proceeds from the senatorial and gubernatorial forums will benefit the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund and the other Chamber programs that benefit our local business community and the general public.

The four-way gubernatorial race on Nov. 4 is expected to be headed for a gubernatorial runoff race if not one of the teams gets at least 50 percent plus 1 of the votes cast during the general elections.