‘Focus on magnitude of Saipan developments’

As expected, Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) was elected chairman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation on Friday, with 12 representative and senators of the 3rd Senatorial District voting him to the position.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude for your support and confidence in voting for me. …I pledge and rest assured that I will work tirelessly and with due diligence with you all…in addressing all the pressing issues that face Saipan and the Northern Islands,” he said while addressing his colleagues at the House chamber.

Sablan also called on the delegation to work together to address the issues that would surface with the number of developments on Saipan, among them the $7.1-billion Saipan casino resort of Best Sunshine International Ltd. and the $130-million hotel project of Honest Profit International Ltd. in San Antonio.

“We all know that there are big developments forthcoming here. …I would like all members to focus on the magnitude of these developments and what we need to address all these developments,” he said.

He asked all delegation members—old and new—to find common ground in serving the people not only of Saipan but all of the CNMI as well.

“To my returning colleagues we have proven that we could work together in the 18th Legislature and I ask and solicit your help and due diligence to help me and work with me. To our freshmen colleagues, I will call on you as well. Please know that my office is always open to you, to work with you.”

Voting for Sablan for the SNILD’s top post were House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero and Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan), Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan), Francis S. Taimanao (Ind-Saipan), Felicidad Ogumoro, Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), and Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) as well as Sens. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), and Justo Quitugua.

Also elected Friday was Igisomar as SNILD vice chair and Angel Demapan as floor leader.

After a request from Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan), the de facto leader of the minority, John Paul Sablan also made public the chairmen and vice chairmen of the SNILD standing committees.

Ways and Means would be chaired by Rep. Antonio P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) with Ogumoro as vice chair. Judicial and Governmental Operations will be led by K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) with Quitugua (Ind-Saipan) as vice chair.

Natural Resources would be chaired by Rafael Demapan with Igisomar as vice chair, while Taimanao would head Public Utilities Transportation and Communications with Antonio Sablan as vice chair.

Federal and Foreign Affairs would be chaired by Palacios, with Angel Demapan as vice chair. Ogumoro will head Education with Taimanao as vice chair.

Tourism will have Lee Pan Guerrero and Camacho as chair and vice chair, respectively, with the two switching chair and vice chair positions in Commerce. Health and Welfare would be chaired by Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero with Antonio Sablan as his lieutenant.

“Stand and reach out to all members to be part of all the committees,” John Paul Sablan advised the delegation after the assignments of chairmanships.

Tebuteb, however, felt that the composition of the committees’ chairs and vice chairs can’t help but divide the aisle of the SNILD since none of the minority members were given posts.