Torres says CNMI included in national GOP platform

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres leads the CNMI’s group of delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. (Contributed Photo)

A spokesman of the local Republican Party said Gov. Ralph DLG Torres along with CNMI delegates were able to get language “favorable” to the CNMI adopted as part of the Republican Party Platform during the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio this week.

“Governor Torres leads the CNMI delegation in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention. All delegates are bound to Donald J. Trump as the Republican nominee for President of the United States,” Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Association spokesman Ivan Blanco told Saipan Tribune in an email from Ohio around 6:30am, CNMI time.

Back in March, CNMI Republicans gave Donald J. Trump 73 percent of the caucus votes, he noted.

At this RNC2016, Torres, along with CNMI delegates, are pleased that language favorable to the CNMI was unanimously adopted as part of the Republican Party Platform, Blanco said.

“While I continue to take on issues on the local level,” Torres said. “I am also making sure that the CNMI is included in the national dialogue because many of our issues are unique to our islands and often, decisions on the national level inadvertently affect our environment, our economy, and our rights under our Covenant.”

According to footage from the event, Torres introduced himself and the delegates as from the territory of the “beautiful islands” of Northern Marianas Islands, “where the weather is 85 degrees all year around.”

“Traveling over 7,000 miles, I am Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, governor of the CNMI. It is my great pleasure and honor being the first territory to endorse our next president of the United States.

“We cast our nine delegates to Donald J. Trump!” he said.

In the video, Blanco, local GOP president and Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada, Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig, Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), and Budget office director and GOP committeewoman Virginia Villagomez can be seen standing by and flanking Torres, all with smiles, and with them a large CNMI flag.

The CNMI delegates, though not all at the event, include Torres, Ada, Villagomez, committeeman Bo Palacios, delegates Ivan A. Blanco, Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), Atalig, Hofschneider, John “Liling” Reyes with alternate delegates Diego C. Blanco, Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), Robert J. O’Connor, and Anthony A. Camacho.