NMI officials witness Obama inauguration

Officials from the CNMI will be among the one million expected to watch Barack Obama sworn in today as the 44th president of the United States.

Gov. Benigno Fitial, Saipan Mayor Juan Tudela, Rep. Tina Sablan and CNMI Rep. Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan will be in attendance at the inauguration. The inauguration events will start around 10am Tuesday Washington D.C. time (1am Wednesday, CNMI time).

Tudela, who has been in D.C. for the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors, earlier said the moment he learned he would be in the nation’s capital during the same period he signed up to watch the ceremony.

Tina Sablan, meanwhile, is traveling at her own expense to D.C. after she found $700 plane tickets from Korea. She will be staying with friends in the area. Rep. Sablan is one of the guests invited by Congressman Sablan to attend the ceremony.

Congressman Sablan said House members sit as a group when Obama takes his oath. They will gather in the Chamber just prior to the ceremony.

The Congressman said he would like to participate in the other activities taking place such as the parade, although he is not sure if he will be able to so.

“I would very much like to also watch the parade, or parts of it,” he said in an e-mail. “There are a lot of other activities going on that I hope to attend but I am not sure I can attend all of them because I have constituents who will be in town and I want to ensure that they are safe and comfortable as they witness the historic inauguration of our 44th President.”

Unfortunately, Congressman Sablan said, his wife and children are unable to attend the historic event.

“I wish my wife and children could be here for the inauguration, too. But our daughter cannot afford to miss two weeks of school,” he said. “My wife has a job she is committed to, and my kids are dedicated to finishing high school at MBA. It means that there will be times, like this one, that I wish they could be by my side at an important event but because of the time and expense of travel to the mainland they can’t be.”

But, he added, he’s happy other people from the CNMI will be able to witness the event.

“I’m just glad that people from the Commonwealth are here with me to witness this moment in American history. All our histories are changing and converging now. It is very good that we are here to be a part of that,” he said.

Activities leading up to the swearing-in ceremony have been taking place since the start of the weekend. The presidential inauguration parade will follow the swearing-in ceremony.