LibDay committee kicks parade preps into high gear

The 2015 Liberation Day Committee, Skywalker Communications Group, Saipan Mayor’s Office, and other related agencies met yesterday at the mayor’s office at the Ladera Center to gear up preparations for the 2015 Liberation Parade.

Officials from the Department of Public Safety and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. discussed with the committee about safety and power usage for the Liberation Day festival.

“What we’re trying to do is to put things in order like CUC discussing the plans for the power side, including safety. This is to make sure that last-minute planning doesn’t conflict,” said Saipan Mayor David Apatang.

The parade will be held on July 4 and will stretch from the Quartermaster intersection to the Liberation Day Festival grounds at the Garapan Fishing Base. Float and parade participants are encouraged to be at the starting point, Quartermaster, by 7:30am, with the parade kicking off at 9am

Apatang told committee members that the making of floats needs to be pushed because July 4 is nearing.

“It usually takes a whole month for the parade floats to be prepared. We need to urge residents to join in the floats so they could start preparing their floats. We’re not here to make money; we want our people to participate and enjoy,” he said.

Apatang also discussed with the committee that prices for booth rentals were too “expensive,” telling committee members that it would be difficult for vendors to pick up applications.

The price for booth rentals is $2,000. Past liberation festivities usually set the booth rentals at around $100.

“The booth rental is too pricey and this is a community-based event and we might be able to have more applications [if we lower the rental price],” he said.

Apatang conceded saying that they’d probably have to wait and expect more to come in later.

Liberation Day committee member Rose Ada Hocog said that six have already picked up applications.

There are 48 booth available for rental for food and merchandise vendors.

Several community members have complained online through social media about the pricey booth rental.

However, Apatang is urging community members to be a part of the parade and take up applications for floats. Parade floats will have prizes of $4,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, $2,000 for third place, and $1,000 for fourth place. These are the largest prizes so far for the parade float competition.

The 2015 Liberation Day festival will open on June 27 from 6pm to 10pm from Monday to Thursdays, 6pm to 11pm on Fridays, 10am to 11pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 10pm on Sundays and will run until Aug. 16.

To pick up applications or get more information, call the Saipan Mayor’s Office at 234-6208 or the Skywalker office at 234-7942.