Torres postpones SOCA delivery—again

Ralph DLG Torres

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has postponed his planned State of the Commonwealth Address to an unspecified date “in the interest of harmonizing the sentiment of our community that resulted from the chaos the House leadership created surrounding this matter.”

This was the third time that the SOCA has been rescheduled. Torres originally set the speech on Oct. 21, 2022, but that provoked criticism from opposition lawmakers. Subsequently, on Oct. 19, 2022, Torres asked the presiding officers for the Legislature to convene in a joint legislative session to receive the SOCA and that his office has confirmed the use of Kensington Hall at the Kensington Hotel Saipan to deliver the SOCA on Oct. 31, 2022, at 10am. This contradicted the Dec. 1 date that the House had set for the SOCA.

“While I was hoping to deliver the SOCA before a joint session on the Oct. 31 rescheduled date, it is apparent that it will not be the case as a result of the impasse between both chambers as to the desired date for the joint session,” Torres said in a press statement last Friday. “I wish to reiterate that the goal of the SOCA event is to provide the public an opportunity to hear from its government, the challenges we have faced, and the progress we have made as a community. I consider this opportunity, following years of disasters that have impeded prior addresses from occurring, a critical element of ensuring the public is aware of the actions and decisions of its government.

“Moreover, I regard my delivery of the SOCA to be a means of delivering transparency not just to the other branches of our government, but to the people we are called to serve. It is very unfortunate that the House, once again, has decided to cry foul and accused my administration as politicizing the SOCA as a means to advance my re-election bid. Such accusation is far from the truth. Our recovery efforts from the disasters and the pandemic are evident with the progress that we have achieved thus far. Although some may not want to acknowledge the successes of our community in overcoming our most challenging times, I will continue advancing efforts towards economic recovery and growth to improve the quality of life for all.

“I stand by my legal counsel’s advice that the delivery of the SOCA event before a joint session is only a traditional practice and not a constitutional mandate. However, although it is my desire to proceed forward with the SOCA on October 31st, I am postponing the event in the interest of harmonizing the sentiment of our community that resulted from the chaos the House leadership created surrounding this matter.

“I look forward to sharing in the immediate future the successes of our community and the Commonwealth we are working to build where each and every member of our community play a vital role in making the Marianas one of the best places to live and visit.”

Torres delivered his last SOCA on Aug. 24, 2018. Seventeen days later, Typhoon Mangkut made landfall on Rota on Sept. 10, 2018. On Oct. 24, 2018, Saipan and Tinian experienced the wrath of Super Typhoon Yutu, the earth’s strongest storm in 2018 and the most powerful typhoon ever to hit the islands. Even as the CNMI was still recovering from both Typhoon Mangkut and Super Typhoon Yutu, the Commonwealth and the entire world was hit by the COVID-19 virus. (Saipan Tribune/PR)