NMC-CREES training produces 11 livestock paravets

By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The CNMI welcomed 11 new paravets into its fold after the Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research, Extension & Education Service concluded Phase I of its Paravet Program Project in a ceremony held Friday at the World Resort Saipan.

The training program produced graduates from Saipan, Rota and Tinian. The five graduates from Saipan are Joe Randy Tudela, Richard Maratita, Joanne Moses, Jeffrey Castro, and Jack Deleon Guerrero.

The three graduates from Tinian are Fabros Muna, Aniceto Mendiola and John Santos, while the three hailing from Rota are Michael Ogo, Wayne Aldan, and Maneses Barcinas.

NMC-CREES interim director Anthony Benavente and Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz, one of only two licensed veterinarians in the CNMI, were on hand to present the certificates to the graduates.

Ignacio said the graduates should continue with the second phase of the project, where advance paravet concepts and applications will be taught.

He also said Moses has already been hired by the Division of Agriculture and she would be training at the USDA Meat Inspection program.

Paravets are professionals who are trained to provide several types of services that are normally reserved for licensed veterinarians. They usually are graduates of recognized schools and must have also passed a state and national veterinary board exams, according to Ignacio.

The 11 paravets that NMC-CREES graduated, however, are trained only for livestock or farm animals and cannot be allowed to treat smaller animals or pets.

Jeff Castro, one of the A-plus graduates of the Paravet training, said he believes he and his batchmates did an excellent job by completing Phase I of the training. He said he could not wait for the second phase to begin.

Department of Land and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Seman and Department of Agriculture Saipan director Donald Flores also attended the graduation. Other guests were Workforce Investment Agency executive director Jesse Stein, and NMC-CREES agriculture consultant Isidoro Cabrera.

The Agricultural Development in the American Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, and USDA-CSREES supported the NMC-CREES Paravet Program Project.

Dr. Allan Sabaldica, a CNMI veterinarian, also said the program would not have been successful without the help of Jim Hollyer, Dr. Siosifa Fififta, Jack Guerrero, the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the Commonwealth Port Authorities, and DLNR.