Palacios: ‘Stabilizing government’ one of significant feats

With the Palacios-Apatang administration turning 1 several weeks ago, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios considers “stabilizing the government” as one of their significant accomplishments in that one-year period.

In response to Saipan Tribune’s question on Friday, Palacios also cited continuing to pay the retirees’ pension benefits and the Public School System as among their other major accomplishments. He said they were also able to continue to pay government employees across the island.

“We [are going to] be providing immediate help to the community, our tourism,” said Palacios, adding that they will continue to have dialogues with federal agencies on how they can leverage those resources.

“And those are going to happen soon rather than later,” the governor added.

When asked about the administration’s priorities in 2024, Palacios said they want to finish all the infrastructure development.

He said they want to bring the business community to a better place and get new investment into the Commonwealth.

“A good infrastructure is very critical. That’s something that not only the local leadership or I want, but also regional leaders and regional business,” Palacios said.

The governor said those are of the first things that investors consider in making a decision whether they are going to come here or not.

When Palacios and Apatang took their oath as the CNMI’s 10th governor and 13th lieutenant governor, respectively, on Jan. 9, 2023, each reiterated a promise to restore and rebuild the people’s trust in the government.

Palacios then stated that they will work with the Legislature to push through initiative to stabilize the fiscal health of the government; review past use of public funds and pursue, with the assistance of the attorney general, the options of recoupment from those individuals and companies.