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Mayor Tudela leads installation of new Sugar King monument
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Posted on Nov 30 2005
Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela Tuesday afternoon led the installation of a new monument in honor of the Sugar King, Haruji Matsue, at an area fittingly named to the father of the island’s sugar industry.
Mayor Tudela joined war veterans and a number of government and private sector officials in the Haruji Matsue Memorial Dedication ceremony, which was held as part of the 51st death anniversary of Matsue.
Mayor Tudela said the little monument signified the strong ties between the Municipality of Saipan and Aizuwakamatsu prefecture, where Matsue was born.
Early this year, Aizuwakamatsu Mayor Ichiro Kanke visited Saipan to personally visit the park. Both mayors planted a breadfruit tree just next to the giant statue of Matsue in Sugar King.
“As a symbol of the strong bond that exists between Aizuwakamatsu City and the Municipality of Saipan, he [Kanke] promised to send this memorial which we are dedicating here today,” said Mayor Tudela.
“Because of the tremendous influence of Mr. Matsue as a real pioneer in shaping the history of the economic development or our islands, it is only fitting that we dedicate this memorial here today to him,” he added.
Mayor Tudela said that Matsue earned his distinguished title of “Sugar King” by believing what many people long ago said could never be done—that is to transform three major islands of the Marianas into a successful sugar cane industry.
Marianas Visitors Authority board chair David Sablan, MVA deputy managing director Martin Duenas, MVA officer Frank Tudela, CNMI Museum of History and Culture director Maggie Sablan, Pacific Eagle Enterprises president Willie Matsumoto and vice president Aya Matsumoto, and Saipan Mayor’s Office officials also attended the installation ceremony.
