Condolences for the CNMI pour in

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) mourned yesterday the untimely passing of Gov. Eloy S. Inos, saying, “Our hearts are broken knowing that we can no longer look to Gov. Inos to guide the Northern Mariana Islands.”

“We have lost a wise and hard-working leader today,” said Sablan in a statement. “Andrea and I send our deepest condolences to the Governor’s family. We will keep him and them in our prayers.

“Gov. Inos gave all he had to the people he served until the very end. We watched his declining health with sadness over the last years. Yet, when others might have let go of their responsibility to others to care for themselves, Gov. Inos clearly used every ounce of his strength to keep working for the people and the islands he loved. His dedication is an example to us all.

“Personally, I will miss his counsel and the experiences of a lifetime of public service and private accomplishment that Governor Inos always so generously shared,” said Sablan.

Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) also expressed deep sadness at the news of Inos’ passing. “He was a tireless advocate for the people of the [CNMI] and whose leadership was instrumental during a time of great change and opportunity. Today the CNMI has lost a respected public servant. On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and the people of the Northern Mariana Islands during this difficult time.”

Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo ordered flags in the territory to be flown at half-staff beginning yesterday afternoon until the day of Inos’ interment.

“We were deeply grieved to hear about the passing of Gov. Eloy Inos. He was a strong leader to the people of the Northern Marianas, a good husband and father, and a dear friend to us and the people of Guam. Governor Inos always put his people first and worked hard to find ways to improve the quality of life in the Northern Mariana Islands,” said Calvo in a statement.

Guam Speaker Judith T. Won Pat also extended her sympathies to the family of Inos. “I am deeply saddened to learn of Governor Inos’s passing. Governor Inos championed for the [CNMI] for more than 40 years both in the public and private sectors. He gave generously of his time, talents, and resources to enhance the lives of the people of the Northern Marianas. On behalf of [the 33rd Guam Legislature], I send our deepest condolences.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and with the people of Northern Marianas.”

Anthony Babauta, the former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas, also joined the people of the Northern Marianas in honoring Inos’ memory. “During my tenure as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, U.S. Department of the Interior, I worked closely with Governor Inos to accomplish many mutual goals to improve the lives of the people the Commonwealth.  These infrastructure projects that we both believed were of utmost importance to the economic growth of the islands included delivery of reliable water and power to the community, reforming health delivery to all residents of the island, refurbishing the islands’ roads and the protection of precious resources such as our coral reefs and the bountiful ocean fisheries. Through those many hours of collaborating with Eloy, I grew to know and respect him as not just a public servant but as a friend who shared the same passion for his people that was second only to his love of his family.  I send my condolences to the Inos family as well as the entire Commonwealth on the passing of a great leader.”

Guam Sen. Tina Rose Muña Barnes also offered her deepest condolences to the Inos family and the people of the CNMI “as they mourn the loss of their beloved leader.”

“Gov. Eloy Inos was a good man and a great friend of the people of Guam. My family and I are deeply saddened by the news of his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives were changed by Gov. Inos’ leadership,” Muña Barnes said.  “We especially want to send our deepest condolences to the Inos family, his friends, and loved ones.”

 “As a graduate of the University of Guam and a Triton for life, Gov. Inos understood the very special relationship that exists between people of Guam and the people of the CNMI.  We mourn his passing and believe that his lifelong work to improve the lives of his people will never be forgotten.”

Bank of Guam’s Lou Leon Guerrero, the board of directors, management and staff of the Bank of Guam also sent their condolences.  “We are deeply saddened by the death of our friend, Gov. Inos.  We share the deep loss with our family and friends in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and we are there for them during their time of grief and loss.”