MILLENNIUM ILLUMINATION PROJECT First Lady appeals for donations

First Lady Sophie Tenorio yesterday appealed to the business sector for assistance in raising some $142,000 to illuminate the island from the American Memorial Park to Pacific Islands Club in time for the new millennium.

The First Lady made the pitch during a meeting at the Rotary Club where she asked for donations to raise the needed amount so that they can light up the island beginning December 1.

“This is just one way of showing that we are looking forward to a better and brighter year,” Mrs. Tenorio said. Assisting in the project are the Marianas Visitors Authority, Department of Public Works and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. The money will be used to acquire the neon lights and other materials needed for the project.

Saying she wants the whole community to be part of the project, Mrs. Tenorio has also asked the school children to give any amount. Various government agencies and other members of the community are also requested to take part in the project.

The First Lady has already received some $5,000 from GTE Pacifica, $2,000 from Manny Villagomez and $2,000 from Aqua Resort.

“We do not want the business sector to handle this alone. We also want the government agencies and the whole of the CNMI to be part of this,” she said.

Some 20 sculptures representing the images of the CNMI will be erected on different spots. Sketches of these images were done by the Marianas High School art class.

MVA Deputy Managing Director Vicky Benavente said the tourism office is still coordinating with the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands to discuss the date for the holding a block party to celebrate the new millennium without necessarily competing with hotels that are planning their own activities.

Earlier, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio met with heads of various government agencies to ask for their assistance in welcoming the new millennium as tour operators have been enticing tourists abroad to mark the millennium here.

All Nippon Airways will operate 10 Osaka-Saipan charter flights on Dec. 25 to Jan. 7 next year. Pacific Micronesia Tours and Tasi Tours, subsidiaries of Japan Travel Bureau, the biggest tour operator in the world, are handling the marketing of the Saipan millennium trip.