‘We are all in to rebuild trust’

Arnold I. Palacios and David M. Apatang wave to the crowd after taking their oath of office as the CNMI’s governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, during an inaugural ceremony at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe yesterday morning. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

Treading on the same ground where the CNMI swore in its first governor 45 years ago, newly sworn in Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang each reiterated a promise to restore and rebuild the people’s trust in the Commonwealth government.

Palacios and Apatang took their oaths as the CNMI’s 10th governor and 13th lieutenant governor, respectively, at an inauguration ceremony at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe in an event that also saw other inauguration ceremonies happening in other places across the CNMI.

CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro administered the oath of office for the 67-year-old Palacios, while Associate Justice John A. Manglona administered the oath for the 74-year-old Apatang during the ceremony that lasted only about an hour and seven minutes, said to be the fastest gubernatorial inauguration ceremony in CNMI history.

The Commonwealth’s first governor, Carlos Camacho, was also sworn into office at the same site 45 years ago.

Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a member of the U.S. Congress representing American Samoa, was present at yesterday’s ceremony. She was joined by Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Chuuk Gov. Alexander R. Narruhn, Philippines Consul General John U. Hilado, U.S. District Court for Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood, and U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.

In his speech, Palacios said he and Apatang saw more than a year ago that the Commonwealth was facing a moment of crisis and in need of leadership. “While we should be sitting back and enjoying retirement for a second time, what we saw more than a year ago motivated us to reconsider,” Palacios said. “Our people deserve better than where we’re at today.” See Palacios’ speech on Page 9

Palacios said that, by taking their oath of office, they are recommitting themselves to another term of public service and to lead the Commonwealth from this moment of crisis.

“We are all in to rebuild trust, restore confidence, and bring back integrity and credibility to our government,” said Palacios, drawing cheers from dignitaries, guests, and people, who watched the ceremony under several tents put up in the parking of the multi-purpose center.

He promised no easy answers or quick fixes, saying it will entail plain hard work and sacrifices.

Taking a swipe at former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Palacios said what propelled people in the November elections is fiscal accountability and the growing evidence of squandering of tax dollars.

He said that, with disaster recovery efforts incomplete and a continuing global health pandemic taking a toll on the economy, there is a need to use public funds wisely.

He said they will work closely with the Legislature to push through initiative to stabilize the fiscal health of the government; review past use of public funds and pursue, with the assistance of the Attorney General, the options of recoupment from those individuals and companies.

“Our people deserve better,” he said, again drawing cheers from the crowd.

With respect to the Department of Public Safety, Palacios said DPS needs a major overhaul. He said they will be appointing a DPS commissioner who has the extensive enforcement experience who will emphasize training of officers, upgrade investigative facilities, and reestablish the cooperation that the CNMI once have with federal agencies.

“We will ensure that our essential front-line workers are taken care of and treated fairly,” Palacios said.

He said they will get back on track with the disaster recovery program, rebuilding projects especially for schools of the Public School System. The governor said the Board of Education and PSS must account for the delay of construction of new school buildings that the federal partner entrusted the CNMI to do.

Apatang said he and Palacios will assume office and immediately face a myriad number of challenges, issues, demands, oppositions, and many more. Apatang said they will look at these challenges in the eye and work together to resolve them.

He said the Legislature will be involved in every step of the way as they will value their input.

Apatang said they will start their four-year term with many pressing issues, like deteriorating infrastructure; rising prices of goods, labor, materials, and other things; depleting federal aid; mounting debts; mounting deficits; uncertainty in the jobs market; struggling travel industry; rising demand for public services; growing unemployment; stagnant economy; and, a huge liability in the unfinished casino and hotel in Garapan.

“We will find answers that work for many of our challenges,” he said.

On COVID-19 pandemic, the lieutenant governor said it may seem like the CNMI is out of the woods and that lives are returning to normalcy, but he and Palacios feel that the Commonwealth is still vulnerable to global economic interruptions.

“Other potential threats to the security of our nation and its territories should always be on our front burner,” he said.

Apatang said the federal aid under ARPA has a definite end date, Dec. 31, 2024, and that those ARPA funds are what is keeping the CNMI government afloat. Apatang said he and Palacios will come up with ways to keep the Commonwealth going before the funds run out or the period they have to spend the funds run out.

“We believe our best bet to keep us afloat before and after Dec. 31, 2024, is our available and abundant local resources—our businesses and our environment,” he said.

The lieutenant governor said turning the Commonwealth into a friendly and safe and affordable clean destination just might bring back tourists from Japan and South Korea.

Apatang encouraged up-and-coming young generations to campaign on their strength, on relevant issues, on workable solutions, not on faults, weaknesses, and misfortune of others.

Apatang turned tear-eyed when reminiscing about his late wife, saying he is sure she would be sharing her most beautiful smile with him and all of the people at the moment if she were there.