[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H3680-H3681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO THE MAYORS OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS
(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, in the Northern Mariana Islands, modern-day
mayors represent a proud tradition that dates back thousands of years
to the maga'lahi who led families, clans, and villages of ancient
Chamorro society. These individuals, and their forebears, represent an
enduring line of local self-government in our islands. They deserve
recognition for the important role they have filled, particularly
during the return to local self-government after World War II, which
was essential to regaining and preserving our cultural identity. This
process began soon after American troops freed our islands in the 1944
Battle for Saipan.
Chamorro and Carolinian survivors of the war elected a high chief,
roughly the equivalent of a mayor, in their first exercise of American
democracy. The mayor in those days served in a role now customarily
identified with the office of the governor. Today, mayors are charged
with more traditional responsibilities such as administering government
programs, public services, and appropriations in their respective
municipalities.
Please join me in honoring the past and present mayors of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, who have contributed
greatly to the quality of life in our community.
Mr. Speaker, in the Northern Mariana Islands, the modern-day mayors
of our far-flung community represent the democratic embodiment of a
proud tradition of local leadership that dates back thousands of years
to the maga 'lahi who led families, clans, and villages in ancient
Chamorro society. These individuals, and their forebears, represent the
most enduring line of local government in our islands and merit
recognition for the important roles they have filled historically, and
particularly during the return to local self-government during the past
65 years.
Over 3,500 years ago, the Mariana Islands were first discovered by
intrepid sailors from elsewhere in Asia. They organized a society at
harmony with nature on our islands that thrived for millennia.
Beginning in the early 1500s, however, with the arrival of Ferdinand
Magellan, the Marianas lost their independence to successive colonizing
forces from all corners of the globe. Spanish forces were followed in
the Northern Marianas by Germans, then by the Japanese, and finally--
under a United Nations trusteeship--by the United States, until the
people of our islands were given the opportunity for self-determination
and voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Covenant to Establish a
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with
the United States of America.
During these four centuries of colonialism, our ancestors were told
where they could live or not live, their traditional latte stone homes
were destroyed, they were forced to adopt foreign customs and
religions, and their populations were decimated by foreign diseases
[[Page H3681]]
and violence at the hands of their colonizers. Although there were
titular local leaders, the reestablishment of a substantive government,
under the control of the indigenous people, was essential to regaining
and preserving cultural identity. This process began approximately five
months after American troops wrested control of the Northern Marianas
from the Japanese in the 1944 Battle for Saipan.
In December of that year, Chamorro and Carolinian survivors of the
war, interned at Camp Chalan Kanoa, elected a high chief in their first
exercise of American democracy. The office of high chief was later
renamed chief commissioner, after the United States naval government
implemented a municipal charter for Saipan during the post-war years.
Municipal governments developed in similar fashion on the Northern
Islands, Tinian and Aguiguan, and Rota. During the early days of an
emerging democracy in the islands, the chief commissioner served as the
principal liaison between the local political structure that was being
established and the U.S. naval administration, and in a role now more
identified with the office of the governor. The chief commissioner was
responsible for overseeing the work of the several departments which
comprised the executive branch: the treasury, economics, public works,
education, public health, and public safety. This official was also
responsible for preparing the municipality's annual budget; proposing
legislation to the legislature, which at that time was made up of
commissioners and councilmen; and serving as the judge of the municipal
court.
With the adoption of the Covenant and the formation of a
constitutional government, each of the island municipalities has
continued to elect a local executive. These mayors are charged with
advising the governor on government operations and matters concerning
their respective municipalities. They also administer government
programs, public services, and appropriations provided by law; conduct
public hearings with respect to government operations and local
matters; coordinate any provision of federal programs extended to their
respective municipalities; act as the principal local official for
mobilizing resources and coordinating response and recovery efforts in
the face of emergencies; in consultation with the Municipal Council,
submit items for inclusion in the proposed budgets for both government
operations and capital improvement projects; and, in the case of
Rota, and Tinian and Aguiguan, appoint, in consultation with the head
of the respective executive branch department, all resident department
heads.
In recent years, mayors of the Northern Islands, Saipan, Tinian and
Aguiguan, and Rota have contributed greatly to the quality of life in
the Northern Mariana Islands. The mayors have participated in the
Commonwealth-wide street naming project, they have hosted cultural and
educational symposia, they have spearheaded the development of public
lands and coordinated infrastructure improvements, and, on a daily
basis, they coordinate the provision of public services to the
residents of their islands.
I ask you to join me today in honoring the past and present mayors of
the local municipalities that comprise the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands. The mayors of Saipan, from the dark days of the war to
the present include: Gregorio San Nicolas Sablan, Elias Parong Sablan,
Ignacio Villagomez Benavente, Vicente Diaz Sablan, Luis Arriola
Benavente, Francisco Manibusan Diaz, Jose Santos Rios, Gilbert Castro
Ada, Jose Mettao Taitano, Jesus Sablan Guerrero, Jose Camacho Sablan,
Juan Borja Tudela, and Donald Glenn Flores.
The mayors of the Northern Islands: Daniel Pangelinan Castro, Vicente
Matagolai Aldan, Ambrosio Satur Ruben, Joseph Taman Ogumoro, Valentin
Igisaiar Taisakan, and Tobias Dela Cruz Aldan; and before, the District
Administrator Representatives Juan Mettao and the long-serving
Francisco Borja Kaipat.
The atkadi, commissioners, and mayors of Rota: Carlos Songsong Calvo,
Andres Camacho Atalig, Tomas Camacho Mendiola, Melchor Songsong
Mendiola, Juan Camacho Diaz, Manuel Ada Manglona, Antonio Camacho
Atalig, Prudencio Taisacan Manglona, Joseph Songao Inos, Benjamin
Taisacan Manglona, and Melchor Atalig Mendiola.
The commissioners and mayors of Tinian and Aguiguan: Jose Manglona
Hocog, Juan Cruz Villagomez, Jose Reyes Cruz, Antonio Simabukuru Borja,
Henry Gikibai Hofschneider, William Villagomez Hofschneider, Felipe
Camacho Mendiola, Herman Muna Manglona, Ignacio King Quichocho, James
Masga Mendiola, Francisco Manglona Borja, Jose Pangelinan San Nicolas,
and Ramon Muna Dela Cruz.
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