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Kia’aina meets new leaders of CNMI, Marshall Islands
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Assistant Secretary Esther Kia’aina traveled this week to visit the leadership of both the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
In the Northern Mariana Islands, Kia’aina attended the official funeral services for the late CNMI governor Eloy Songao Inos, following which she will then met with the recently sworn-in governor of the CNMI, Ralph Deleon Guerrero, and Lt. Gov. Victor Borja Hocog. The former lieutenant governor and former CNMI Senate President were sworn in on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, as the new governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
While in the Northern Mariana Islands, Kia’aina also met with Senate President Francisco Manglona Borja, outgoing Speaker of the House Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero, and incoming Speaker of the House Ralph Sablan Demapan.
The Assistant Secretary travels next to the Marshall Islands to meet with the newly inaugurated President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Casten Nemra, who was voted in by the newly-elected members of the Nitijela (parliament) of the republic. Nikolao Pula, Director of the Office of Insular Affairs will accompany the Assistant Secretary on this visit.
The Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas carries out the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior in coordinating federal policy for the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the CNMI. (OIA)
