Some Saipan lawmakers not dressing properly for sessions

Arguing over dress code may seem trivial, but some lawmakers said the Rules of Procedure of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation should be followed all the time.

During a delegation session on Thursday, House minority leader Diego Benavente (R-Saipan) said the rules have been established to be followed and abiding by the dress code policy affords respect to the legislative body.

“I am not recommending we remove it. …I would argue that we should keep it,” he told his colleagues.

Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan) said he’s glad that the body is discussing the dress code “no matter how trivial.”

“We have rules. …We have to abide by the rules,” he said.

Rule V, Section 8, Dress Code, of the delegation rules requires all members, officers, and employees appearing on the floor to be “suitably attired. Men shall wear a shirt, tie, slacks, and shoes.”

But some delegation members have been attending the sessions wearing shirt and no ties. In previous sessions, officers would call for a short break so that some members could get a tie from their office and wear them during the session.

House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), who was not wearing a tie on Thursday, said what matters is that members wear a nice shirt, and not necessarily with a tie. He said island wear is also proper attire, and that lawmakers should focus on doing their job, including finding ways to generate revenue and control spending.

Cabrera also said there are some members who wear a tie but wear “Levi’s,” referring to a pair of jeans. But his colleagues later said coat and tie with jeans are now fashionably acceptable.

Rep. Frank Dela Cruz (R-Saipan) said a “shirt” could also be a T-shirt.

Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) suggested that the delegation chairman, Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan), should also specify during calls for sessions that members should come with island wear or tie.

In the end, members agreed that the dress code should be followed, including wearing a tie, during sessions.

After discussing the dress code and the appointment of an acting mayor as required by Saipan Local Law 17-8, the delegation adjourned without passing a local bill, although floor leader Pete Reyes (R-Saipan) placed on the bill calendar two zoning-related measures, including one from the speaker.