United Carolinians Association is revived

United Carolinians Association officers and members of the UCA board of directors gather for a photo at July 28, 2020 board meeting. Left to right: Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar, Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Malcom J. Omar, Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Frank M. Rabauliman, Carolinian Affairs Office executive assistant John I. Tagabuel, Maria T. Peter, Melvin O. Faisao, Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, and Ramon A. Tebuteb. (Contributed Photo)

Past and current elected leaders gathered to revive a Refaluwasch organization with a vision of improving the lives of the Refaluwasch people in the Northern Marianas.

To further support initiatives of the Carolinian Affairs Office, leaders from the Refaluwasch community came together to organize the United Carolinians Association. Officially incorporated on July 14, 2020, UCA formed to “preserve, promote and advance the culture, education, economic self-sufficiency and quality of life of the Northern Marianas Carolinians.”

Members of the board of directors, both past and present elected and government leaders, include former representatives Fred Peters Rogolifoi Deleon Guerrero, Melvin Odoshi Faisao, Jacinta Matagolai Kaipat, Maria “Malua” Taisakan Peter, Mariano Taitano, Ramon “Ray” Angailen Tebuteb; Rep. Edmund Hosono Sablan Villagomez and Rep. Jose Ilo Itibus; Sen. Sixto Kaipat Igisomar; former governor Benigno Repeki Fitial; and OPD director Aschumar Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong. Executive assistant for Carolinian Affairs John Itibus Tagabuel serves as an ex-officio member.

In their organizational meeting last July 9, the UCA board of directors elected as their officers Frank Mareham Rabauliman as president; Felicidad “Daling” Taman Ogumoro as vice president; Mark Olopai Rabauliman as treasurer, and Malcolm Jason Omar as secretary.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic crisis and economic impacts from the past two super typhoons have affected the lives of every citizen in the CNMI. We wanted to revive UCA to pool our ideas and resources in pursuit of the mission and goals of UCA, to help our people and contribute to our community,” said Rabauliman. “We have united to support executive assistant Tagabuel in his duties as established by Article III Section 18 of the CNMI Constitution to benefit our people.”

“We want to ensure that opportunities are sought out and made available to the Northern Marianas Carolinians that would help us work toward achieving economic self-sufficiency. This will in turn not only benefit the Carolinians and Chamorros of Northern Marianas descent, but all members of our community,” said Ogumoro.

UCA wishes to inform the public that it will be announcing upcoming community meetings. Any inquiries or requests for assistance can be sent to caroliniansunited@gmail.com. (PR)