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Resolve street naming dispute – Teno
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Posted on Aug 14 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has called anew for immediate resolution of problems that have delayed the implementation of street naming project on Saipan, underscoring its significance in providing emergency responses to the community.
“They know where I stand. I told them to do something about it immediately. They have to get together and resolve differences so we could expedite (the project),” he told reporters.
The Saipan Mayor’s office has been trying to forge ahead with its initial plan to identify streets on the island, but it has met strong objections from members of the local legislative delegation on which names to use.
Tenorio earlier has decided to keep his hands off the controversial issue to give the Saipan delegation a free hand in deciding whether Chamorro or Carolinian names should be used.
But he prodded the commission tasked to study recommendations on the street naming project to consider the proposal from the Carolinian community which has been the bone of contention in the ongoing debate among Saipan lawmakers.
He said putting names on the streets would help public safety authorities and other government agencies respond immediately to emergency situations as it would easily identify the location.
“It’s very important especially now that we are trying to install the 911 emergency line,” Tenorio explained. “It will be very important that we finish naming the street.”
Last month, municipal officials and local lawmakers failed to resolve differences on the long-stalled project of the Office of the Mayor as members fought over whether Chamorro or Carolinian names will be used for the plan after a six-month review by the commission.
Some legislators, led by Rep. Melvin Faisao, have accused local officials of ignoring the recommendation from the Carolinian community as the plan waiting for approval by the delegation is the same proposal that came under fire last December.
The commission, created by the municipal government, is expected to go back to the drawing board to consider their input.
