Advocates, supporters rally for H.O.P.E. Recovery Center

Rally for H.O.P.E. recovery center event goers pose for a photo last Friday at the road in front of the Capitol Hill Baseball Field to show support for the center by handing out petitions to keep it open. (LEIGH GASES)

Clinets, advocayes, and supporters of the Hinemlu Ohala Para Enteramenti, or H.O.P.E. Recovery Center, staged a “Rally for H.O.P.E.” last Friday in front of the Capital Hill Baseball Field, during which petitions to keep the center open were handed out for the community to sign.

Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, who is currently the acting governor, actually walked over from the Office of the Governor to the rally site and said that they have no intention of shutting it down. Apatang was seen at the rally as it was about to disperse around 5pm. He later told Saipan Tribune: “We never intended to close the program. I’ve been supporting these programs since the beginning of time, but we’re trying to arrange the manpower for the program itself.”

He added, “[The ralliers] could’ve come to the office, we could have talked, and we could’ve explained what’s going on.”

However, the ralliers told Saipan Tribune after the event that they did make an effort to speak with the governor and lieutenant governor since Feb. 2, but have not received a return call to meet. They also reached out to the lieutenant governor’s office secretary, but they did not receive a call back as well.

They said they called the lieutenant governor’s office again last Feb. 7, but they still did not hear back from them. It was also learned at the rally that some people in recovery tried to seek help for the program but were turned away because of the uncertainty of its future—if it will remain open or shut down.

On the same day of the rally, on Friday, businessman Diego M. Sablan was officially appointed as special assistant for Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation Program.

Apatang said, “The governor [Arnold I. Palacios] and I never intended to close the program. As a matter of fact, we appointed a special assistant effective today, [Friday].”

When asked why the idea about the center’s possible closure even came up, Apatang said, “We don’t print money. We are trying to figure out how to try and continue the program. This is a very important program for us.”

As for the protesters, he said, “This is their right to come out. But we never intended to close the program.”

About 50 or more rally goers on the scene held signs they showed to passing cars that said various things such as “Save HOPE”, “WE LOVE SAAR,” “KEEP H.O.P.E ALIVE,” among others.

Some people in recovery, along with friends, families, some probation officers from the CNMI Board of Parole, House of Representatives Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), and others, were also seen at the rally.

One of the persons in recovery, Myrna M. Hofschneider, flew from Tinian and shared her story on how the H.O.P.E center has helped her. She said the staff are “amazing people. I went there and I gained family and friends.”

The rally was organized by one of the center’s clients, Jun Santos, and his peers in recovery and other supporters. They made clear that the rally is not a Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation Program-sanctioned event.

Santos told Saipan Tribune that it is their hope “that our effort and showing the support for the program that the government decides to keep it open.”

Chester Hinds, the Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division chief prosecutor, expressed hope last month that the H.O.P.E. Recovery Center will be kept open as it greatly benefits the community.

H.O.P.E., which is locally funded under the Office of the Governor, has helped prevent about 80% of Drug Court participants from committing crimes again.

The center reopened on March 14, 2022, after a four-month-long relocation.