Governor Ralph DLG. Torres on Tuesday issued the following statement regarding Lt. Governor Arnold Palacios’ health and recovery after the incident at the Guma’ Hustisia earlier today.

The CNMI Energy Division Office is pleased to announce the launching of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands – Energizing Insular Communities – Energy Efficient/Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program (CNMI-EIC-EE/ESARP) for the 2^nd Year, to assist interested residents in lowering their home’s energy use and cost of utilities by offering appliance rebate vouchers, as a financial incentive, to redeem at participating local vendors or retailers to receive an in-store instant rebate, for the replacement of old in-efficient appliances with qualified, Energy-Efficient/Energy Star rated products. Due to funding limitations, the number of rebate vouchers are limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis, until funds run out, for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota residents. 

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres on Thursday issued the following statement on the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas this week. 

WHEREAS, for over two centuries, Americans have defended our Nation’s security and protected our founding principles of democracy and equal justice under law. On Memorial Day, we honor those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of these freedoms; and 

WHEREAS, for generations, the men and women of the Marianas have boldly answered the call to serve with great pride and distinction in our nation’s armed forces. These Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen have endured many sacrifices to defend the freedoms that make our islands and nation what it is today.

Duenas, Camacho, & Associates (DCA), a Guam-based firm with contracted works in Guam and the CNMI, kicked-off the parcel-survey on Tinian. DCA was selected by the Department of Public Lands (DPL) amongst three other bidders late last year, under the announcement RFP21-119 and RFP21-120, for the “Parceling Surveying Services” (for Kastiyu and Marpo Heights Phase II).  The total award for Kastiyu and Marpo Heights Phase II is at $134,522.48 and $63,771.16, respectively (for a total of $198,293.64).

On Monday, May 23, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., CNMI-Broadband, part of the CNMI Office of Planning and Development (OPD) under the CNMI Office of the Governor, will hold a Public Listening Session at the CNMI Multipurpose Center. This meeting will be open to all members of the public.

On May 14, 2022, three license-exempt providers participated in a Pediatric CPR and First Aid training at the new Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Program Tinian Office located at Paradise Real Estate, 101 Grand St. San Jose Village.  The training was facilitated by Ms. Maureen Sebangiol, an American Heart Association CPR Instructor and Registered Respiratory Therapy Educator. This training provides participants the necessary skills on how to respond to and manage illnesses and injuries in a young child or infant in their respective facilities or home.  

Yesterday, the Superior Court held that the Office of the Governor could not proceed with its case against the House Judiciary and Government Operations Committee. Although the Administration respects the decision of the Judge, we believe the decision is erroneous by ignoring and misinterpreting law and precedent. For example, in its rush to follow federal precedent, it skipped right over the plain text of the Commonwealth Constitution. Then it overlooked some of the most important protections found even in the federal cases — such as the rule that the legislature may subpoena the executive only when the information it needs is not reasonably available anywhere else. The decision will be appealed. It will be for the Supreme Court to ultimately decide the merits of this civil case.