SERIES OF PROCLAMATIONS SIGNED Teno cheers up public safety officials

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signed six proclamations on Friday underscoring the importance of providing public safety, as well as recognizing the role of correctional and police officers and emergency medical services providers.

In declaring May 1-7 as the CNMI Correctional Officers’ Week, the governor noted their contribution in ensuring public safety, supervising offenders behind bars and effectively providing custody and care to both sentenced adults and adjudicated juveniles.

Similarly, the governor emphasized the dedication of CNMI Police Officers who have shown devotion to provide service to the public regardless of the dangers they face everyday in the performance of their duty as he proclaimed May 14-22 as Police Week.

“These men and women, by their patriotic service and their dedicated efforts, have earned the gratitude of the public,” the governor said.

Mr. Tenorio ordered all government buildings to display the CNMI flag at half-staff on May 15, 2000 to honor the police officers killed or disabled in the line of duty which will be known as Police Memorial Day.

The governor also proclaimed May 14-20 as Emergency Medical Services Week to give importance to these people who are on 24-hour call seven days a week to save people’s lives.

In celebrating Buckle-Up American and Buckle-Up CNMI Week (May 22-29) , the governor urged the people to be conscious in using seat belts and child safety seats to save lives and reduce road injuries.

Research shows that 70 percent of the time, children are not buckled in a vehicle because the drivers are not also using seat belts.
“Increasing seat belt use rate from 68 percent to 90 percent would help prevent an estimated 5,536 fatalities and 132,670 injuries throughout the nation. Child fatalities would be reduced by 25 percent and the national would save $8.8 billion annually,” according to a study conducted in the United States.

The governor asked the public to support authorities in their efforts to promote and enforce seat belt compliance and child safety laws to save lives, curb injury and save CNMI taxpayers’ money.

As approximately 800 people die each year in boat related accidents in the U.S., the governor called on the people to support the goals of the North American Safe Boating Campaign as he declared May 20-26 National Safe Boating Week.

Mr. Tenorio said majority of boat-related accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment and not as a result of inadequate boat equipment or environmental factors.