Who they are, what you see, and what you don’t

WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES

JUAN SABLAN DEMAPAN
Covenant Party

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Spouse: Former Rita Barcinas
Children: Carmen, Beth, Jerome and Paul

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Elementary School: William S. Reyes Elementary School

Middle School: Hopwood Jr. High School

High School: Marianas High, 1972, Class Valedictorian

College: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering—Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering—1975

Post-graduate: Attended Seattle University and University of Guam pursuing a master’s in business administration; attended the Executive Program—University of Virginia.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Public Service(s):

– Senator and Senate President, CNMI Legislature, 1992-96

– Delegate, 1st Constitution Convention, 1976

– Served one year, U.S. Navy Department of Defense (Guam) as Naval Architect, 1981

Professional Licenses: Passed both the engineering in training and professional engineers examinations, State of Washington, 1980/1981

Current Job: Private Consultant

Previous jobs & companies:

– president, Demapan Engineering & Construction Company (Saipan)

– president, Pacifica Consulting Engineers (Saipan)

– president, The Demapan Associates, Inc. (Guam)

– Mobil Oil Guam, Inc./Mobil Oil Micronesia, Inc. (Guam-based)

– Planning Associate/Guam Cabras Terminal Operations Manager/Micronesia Area/Northern Marianas Area Operations Manager/Senior Operations Engineer.

– Worked as design engineer for engineering consulting firm and shipyard in Seattle, Washington.

– Worked for the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands as engineer.

Q. What would you consider the three issues or concerns facing the CNMI that demand immediate action from our government leaders?

A. I see several issues and these are: 1) the need to stimulate and boost the economy, 2) the need to secure funding to boost our educational standards, and 3) the need to boost our standard of living comparable or exceeding those of several states of the United States, 4) follow up on the non-voting delegate bill, now in Congress, and 5) check to see if we can request for more federal funding for our infrastructure developments such water, sewer, power, storm drainage, and roads.

Q. What ideas can you bring to the table to revive the CNMI economy?

A. Without question, our economy needs to be revived by taking more advantage of our special relationship with the United States and our geographical location to the vast Asian populations. We must look into other potential industries like fishing and information technology, and of course, we must continue to see how we can make our islands the premier tourist entertainment destination for the Asia Pacific region.
On education, I see a need to secure funding to continue to educate and train our people in the professional fields like medicine, law, engineering, teaching and vocational trades like carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, or mason so that they can compete anywhere.
Our government should assist our people to get the hands-on training required to compete in the private sector, even after completion or graduation from an educational institution. We must have a well-educated and well-trained workforce.

Q. What is your vision for the Commonwealth? And what are the steps that must be taken to achieve that vision?

A. On this issue, I would like to see the Office of the Washington Representative concentrating in part or playing a role in assisting certain entering college students obtained the best education and training by offering them the “work-study” program under the Office of the Washington Representative. I believe that the Washington D.C. area provides one of the best in the world for educational excellence and independence and experience.

My vision on job opportunities is that every CNMI citizen will always have a choice in a job, a good paying job because he or she is educated and trained well.

Now on the enjoyment of a higher standard of living by all of our people, I would to say that for as long that we don’t have potable and drinkable water right through our faucets, for as long as our cost of living is beyond that of California or Hawaii, for as long as our educational standards is below a state in the U.S., for as long as our healthcare standard of service is below New Mexico, and for as long as our environmental protection facilities are below par, we are not rightfully part of the American family.

Our people as a whole are still at a great disadvantage as compared with other U.S. citizens. The cost of transportation for goods or commodities to and from the United States mainland is still very high. Most of the goods that we purchase that come form the Continental United States take a long time to deliver and the price are ridiculously high, compared to the price of the same commodity or good bought in say California. By the time they reached the island of Guam, the freight cost is already too high beyond comprehension. Once the goods are re-loaded in Guam for transport to our Commonwealth, the freight cost again increases significantly. What can Uncle Sam do to assist and offer relief against this heavy burden that our people and citizens of this great Commonwealth have to endure to stay afloat?

Another important issue I would like to follow up related to the non-voting delegate bill now before the U.S. Congress. While I support this non-delegate bill, the conditions or restrictions that the U.S. Congress will impose on this bill should be examined to see and ensure that the rights of our government and the citizens of our great Commonwealth pursuant to our Covenant Agreement are not undermined or compromised.

Finally, I would like to check or investigate if we can request more federal funding for our infrastructure developments such as roads, power, water, sewer, and storm drainage systems. Our present storm drainage system on our islands appears non existent. During heavy rain, storm water accumulates in many places or areas throughout our islands, many posing a safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists alike. Some notable places where storm water poses a safety hazard or risk include: the area west of the Horiguchi Building in Garapan where the NMI District Court presently sits, the road leading to Speaker Paduna Lane in China Town, just north of Taro Sue Commercial Building, the area in front of Nan Ocha Store in San Vicente, the main roads in front of Joeten in Susupe, the road in front of Payless store in Chalan Kanoa.