Amata Radewagen visits the CNMI

The Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands hailed the visit of Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) this weekend as a gesture of her commitment to being a true friend and partner of the Commonwealth.

Radewagen arrived at 3:30am on Saturday. She proceeded directly to the Hopwood Middle School grounds and visited with friends and community members at the annual Marianas March Against Cancer.

On Sunday, Radewagen held a gathering at the Pacific Islands Club with family, friends and members of the CNMI Republican Party.

Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres, the titular head of the CNMI Republican Party, expressed appreciation for Radewagen’s visit to the CNMI.

“Although she represents American Samoa in the U.S. Congress, [Radewagen] has personal ties to the CNMI and we are grateful that she holds a special place in her heart for our people and our islands,” said Torres.

He said he had the opportunity to meet with Radewagen on several occasions “and I must say that I am greatly comforted knowing that we have an ally in the lone Republican member of Congress from the territories in the Pacific.

“As a key member of the Committees on Natural Resources, Veterans’ Affairs, and Small Business, there are so many key areas of concern that [Radewagen] can help us address,” said Torres. “Having completed our Section 902 negotiations last year, Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan) and Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), who both served as members of the 902 panel, are looking to work with [Radewagen] to push key points of the recommendations included in the 902 report.”

Palacios and Demapan have been vocal on federal issues surrounding the CNMI’s workforce needs, military proposals, and environmental and cultural impacts to marine resources as a result of restrictive federal policies.

They both hailed President Trump’s recent executive order directing the Department of the Interior to review all national marine monument designations to ensure that the concerns of local communities are addressed and considered. Radewagen has also taken the same position and, along with Torres, had pushed the Trump administration to order a review of such designations. 

“As we know, Republicans hold control of the White House and both the U.S. House and Senate, so we believe that with our Republican administration and the Republican-controlled Commonwealth legislature, we are in a position to work closely with [Radewagen] to help advance legislation and initiatives that are crucial to the livelihood of our people. While we continue to see an uptick in our economy, there’s still much work ahead of us to sustain the momentum. And with [Radewagen’s] support, our Republican leadership have a strong partner to work with on the national level,” said James A. Ada, president of the CNMI GOP.

“On behalf of the CNMI Republican Party, I want to thank [Radewagen] for keeping the CNMI dear to her and for being a strong champion not just for American Samoans, but for all of us from the insular areas,” added Ada. (PR)