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Gorman: Military will incorporate Tinian mayor’s request
Joint Region Marianas would take into account the economy and tourism industry of Tinian when it maps out its plans for the island.
According to Joint Region Marianas public information officer Lt. Tim Gorman, Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar made this particular promise to newly sworn in Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas during their meeting last week.
“The military will incorporate the mayor’s request to consider Tinian economic development and tourism factors in military development analysis and planning,” said Gorman in an email to Saipan Tribune.
He added that Bolivar assured San Nicolas that, as the top brass of Joint Region Marianas, she would personally see to it that she would have an active part in resolving military issues on the island.
“We stressed that Rear Admiral Bolivar’s role as U.S. Pacific Command’s representative for [the] CNMI is to facilitate resolution of all military matters,” added Gorman.
Joining Bolivar in her meeting with San Nicolas were Col. Philip Zimmerman, the officer in charge of Marine Corps Activity Guam, and Craig Whelden, the executive director of Marine Forces Pacific.
Currently the CNMI is a still a awaiting the release of the Commonwealth Joint Military Training plan draft Environmental Impact Study by MarForPac that details how they want to maximize the use of Tinian leased lands.
During a meeting with Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres last week, Bolivar noted that the EIS release has been pushed back for a couple of months.
The official also said that there is still no final decision on where the alternative U.S Air Force base would be placed.
The U.S. Department of Defense is considering Saipan and Tinian as the location for a divert airfield in case Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base in rendered inoperable due to attack or natural calamity.
