The team that has kept us safe

Hafa adai and greetings to the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

It has been a tough year. I don’t need to tell any of you that. But I would like to take time out to share my thoughts, collectively, as I ponder all the challenges we are facing this year due to the economic downturn, from natural disasters to a full-blown pandemic.

As we all know, we were on the road to economic recovery from Typhoon Soudelor and Super Typhoon Yutu in early January of this year, with a fair and steady influx of tourist arrivals at 51%, Federal Emergency Management Administration’s housing disaster program, and Small Business Administration loan programs. The Torres-Palacios administration was in its recovery mode and in the process of steadily maneuvering upward mobility to economic stability.

Unfortunately, in March of this year, the governor made the most challenging decision of his tenure to maintain a realistic governmental operation for public safety and a healthy CNMI-wide community. This administration expeditiously implemented strict border control, activation of the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force, and the excellent working relationship with the majority of the 21st Legislature to expedite necessary bills on one of the worst diseases since the 1918 influenza pandemic.

The leadership of the Republicans has been tested and proven during this pandemic. We are the safest place in the nation. This is not by chance, but because of the leadership we have, that jumped to action immediately and ensured that everything that could be done for the people of our islands was done. This is what real leadership looks like.

We all know that strong leadership and excellent collaboration creates optimal results. In this case, the leadership of the Torres-Palacios administration and the Republican-controlled House of Representative and Senate made any natural disaster seem manageable due to the excellent working relationship with both branches of government. Furthermore, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold Palacios understands great and potential leadership in the Republican parties endorsed candidates for both houses of the Legislature from Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Northern Islands.

This is the team that has kept us safe and this is the team that will put our economy back on track. With this said, I humbly ask you to please support and vote for all Republican candidates across the ballot in this election. Biba Republican!

Roman Tudela Jr.
San Vicente, Saipan