Presentation at the 15th General Association of Mariana Islands Mayors and Council Members

Alfred Pangelinan, Director of CNMI Labor's Employment Services Division; Bert Johnston, Education Director of Trades Academy of Guam; Cinta M. Kaipat, Deputy Secretary of CNMI Department of Labor; Eric Plinske, Director of NMC's Small Business Development and SWAT Coordinator; Edith Guerrero, Executive Director for the CNMI Workforce Investment Agency (WIA); and Alice Concepcion, CNMI Labor Employment Services Supervisor.
SWAT Team at 15th General Assembly of the Association of Mariana Islands Mayors
Deputy Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat speaks to Assembly on PL 15-108 and SWAT
Deputy Secretary of Labor Kaipat fields questions from the mayors and council members
SWAT Coordinator Eric Plinske (NMC) gives an overview of SWAT's mission
List of SWAT Partners


Friday February 29, 2008

NMI mayors no show at general assembly

By Emmanuel T. Erediano Variety News Staff

THE 15th general assembly of Association of Mariana Islands Mayors, Vice Mayors and Municipal Council Members is hosted by the CNMI but none of its mayors showed up for the meeting that started yesterday at the Saipan Grand Hotel in Susupe.

Sixteen municipal officials traveled all the way from Guam to attend the assembly where they discussed the economic impact to the region of the pending military build-up.

The group will elect a new set of officers today.

Tinian Mayor Jose San Nicolas confirmed attendance days ago, but due to “unforeseen circumstances,” he said his presence will not be possible.

San Nicolas said he is sending Tinian Municipal Council Chairman Antonio H. Tudela to attend on his behalf.

He said in a letter addressed to the association that “I strongly value our association and believe that the end results of our objectives will be realized if we work together.”

San Nicolas said he has to hold a very important meeting with the department heads on Tinian.
Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos also sent a letter to group saying his tight schedule does not allow him to leave Rota. He instead sent Alfred M. Apatang Jr. as his proxy.

Northern Islands Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan, according to the assembly secretariat, did not confirm his attendance prior to the assembly.

Saipan Mayor Juan B.Tudela, the secretariat said, has resigned from the association years ago.

Those who attended from the CNMI are the members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, which is composed of Chairwoman Antonia M. Tudela, Vice Chairman Ray Blas Camacho and member Felipe Q. Atalig; the Rota Municipal Council’s Roy James A. Masga, Alfred M. Apatang Jr., and Vicente M.Calvo; and the Tinian council’s Antonio Borja, Charlene M. Lizama and Eugenio L. Villagomez.

Department of Labor Deputy Secretary Cinta Kaipat, Division of Employment and Training Services Director Alfred Pangelinan, Labor supervisor Alice Concepcion, Northern Marianas College’s Eric Plinske and Workforce Investment Agency’s Edith Deleon Guerrero were invited to make a presentation on CNMI labor issues. They all showed up.

Guam Mayors Council executive director John F. Blas declined to comment on the CNMI mayors’ absence.

All he could say is that the meeting is important as it focuses on the pending military build-up.
“The economic opportunity brought about by the military build up on Guam will, at some point, impact the CNMI,” Blas said.

He added that yesterday’s meeting also focused on CNMI’s labor situation and the Guam Contractors Association need for skilled workers.

CNMI LABOR FORUM

Greetings!

If you would like to know more about PL 15-108 and what's happening at the Department of Labor, I invite you to visit the CNMI Labor Forum at www.cnmilaborforum.blogspot.com

The Labor Trash Force Picked Up 440 lbs of Trash!

The Labor Trash Force marked the last "Austerity Friday" by picking up trash on Chalan Tun Tomas P. Sablan Road. Labor's adopted section of this Road begins from the Mobil Gas Station in Chalan Piao to the last Pavilion at San Antonio Beach. (About half of the cleanup participants aren't pictured in this photo). GREAT JOB LABOR TRASH FORCE!

The following article appeared in the Tribune last Wednesday.


Local
Wednesday, September 26, 2007


Labor collects two truckloads of trash in cleanup


By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Department of Labor personnel and some family members collected two truckloads of garbage during a cleanup operation along Beach Road in Chalan Piao to San Antonio on Friday.

Twenty-eight Labor officials and staff members brought family members along and teamed up with the Beautify CNMI led by Rep. Cinta Kaipat in combing both sides of Chalan Tun Tomas P. Sablan for trash.

Labor Deputy Secretary Alfred A. Pangelinan told Saipan Tribune yesterday that majority of their employees volunteered their time to do the cleanup. Friday was the last austerity holiday for the government.

Pangelinan said they started near the Mobil Oil Station at 8am and reached the San Antonio Beach south of the Pacific Islands Club at 10am.

At the beach, they had a barbecue and had lunch together, the official said.

Pangelinan said that Labor personnel are overloaded with work, but most of the employees were determined to participate in the effort.

“It was a good day,” he added.

Pangelinan said Labor had adopted the place for regular cleanups and the turnout of participants this year was a lot better than last year.

“We want to send out [a message] to the community that we also want to put in our share [in beautifying the island]. We don't only take care of their applications but also help beautify,” he said.

Labor Secretary Gil M. San Nicolas failed to join because he had a meeting. His secretary, Maria Agulto, was there.

Most of the trash collected were soda and beer cans, towels, garments, shoes, and plastic materials.

Here's a link to the Tribune page.

Beautifying With The Department of Labor

Labor -- The Reward At The End of the Finish Line