‘No campaigning during LibDay parade’

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, left, took part yesterday’s meeting of the 2016 Liberation Day committee at the Saipan Mayor’s conference room. (Jon Perez)

Joe Palacios reminded incumbent elected officials and those who are going to run in the mid-term elections this year not to use the 2016 Liberation Day parade to campaign. Palacios is the new float and parade sub committee chair.

Palacios replaced Mariano Fajardo, who resigned last month citing personal and health reasons. He attended yesterday’s Liberation Day committee meeting at the conference room of the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

Palacios said that as much as possible the committee doesn’t want politics to mix with the Commonwealth’s 71st commemoration of the liberation of Saipan.

“We can’t accept floats that has campaign materials or show support to a candidate. As much as possible no campaigning in the parade,” said Palacios.

“No displaying of political signs, vulgar signs, sponsors, or any advertising. Anybody or group caught will be disqualified and won’t be allowed to join the parade,” he added.

Instead, he advised groups or individuals that would be joining the parade whether competing or not, to be creative in showing this year’s theme—“Our Islands, Our Heritage”—with their float entries.

“You just need to be creative with the float designs that would show this year’s theme. You can either use environmental-friendly materials or others with your float entry,” added Palacios.

He said that participants in the parade should also not be limited in using lowboys for their floats. “There are other vehicles that you could use if lowboys won’t be available for the parade. Of course, the construction companies need lowboys to run their business.”

“We will exert all efforts to ask the construction companies to lend us their lowboys and we can assist any organization that would need them for their float. But you can use a car or a pickup with trailer

Palacios said that the committee is also encouraging the other islands—Northern Islands, Rota, and Tinian—to join the parade especially that all islands are represented by the 29 candidates who joined in this year’s Liberation Day Royal Court.

“We are expecting to have more floats this year since there is a record number of Liberation Day Queen candidates. What the committee wanted is to have the people enjoy the parade and the celebration,” added Palacios.

Applications for the float parade—competing or non competing—opened yesterday with the deadline of submission of entries set on June 27. Entry fee for those competing is $100, non-refundable, while non-competing is free.

Prizes for the float competition is $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 for the top four places.

Palacios said a briefing and orientation of all participants in the float parade would be scheduled at a latter date. “The most important thing is safety of the participants and the crowd. We don’t want anybody to get hurt.”