It was one of the busiest news weeks in recent memory for the Commonwealth, with federal policy, economic development, military affairs, politics and community all competing for the front page.
The biggest CNMI story of the week may have been the one nobody saw coming. Former Governor Ralph DLG. Torres formally filed his intent to seek the governorship again under the Republican Party banner, naming educator Benjamin Mendiola Jones Jr. as his lieutenant governor candidate. After months of speculation, the filing letter to CNMI Republican Party President Patrick Cepeda made it official, with the ticket centering on economic recovery, tourism and restoring a full five-day school week.
On the federal front, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management drew sharp criticism after a signed internal memo revealed the agency recommended nearly doubling the deep-sea mining zone around the CNMI to 69.1 million acres, an area roughly the size of Nevada, despite receiving more than 65,000 public comments in opposition. Mariana Islands conservation advocate Angelo Villagomez of the Center for American Progress condemned the decision as the largest seabed mining proposal in U.S. history, saying it was made without meaningful consultation with the Chamorro and Refaluwasch peoples. Both Governor David M. Apatang and Guam’s Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero objected to the expansion.
Also in Washington, Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds wrote to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright asking for a coordinated federal approach to fuel costs in the CNMI, where gasoline now ranges from $6.37 per gallon on Saipan to $8.50 per gallon on Tinian. The letter came the same week Governor Apatang issued Directive 2026-003, reinstating austerity Mondays for Executive Branch employees effective March 22, citing rising fuel costs and the cost of living burden on government workers.
The Commonwealth Economic Development Authority announced that CNMI Investment LLC, connected to the Singapore-based Pacific Group, has submitted a qualifying certificate application to build the first-ever pharmaceutical manufacturing facility on Saipan. CEDA Executive Director Derek T. Sasamoto said the company chose the CNMI after visiting other territories and locations worldwide, with government responsiveness cited as a key factor. The initial investment is estimated at $35 to $55 million in phase one, with the potential to exceed $100 million across all phases.
Senator Celina R. Babauta announced that the push to establish a CNMI National Guard is gaining real momentum, with a formal working group set to be established in the coming months. Babauta also proposed the former Marianas Resort complex as the facility site and put forward an expansion of Charlie Dock into Tanapag Harbor to support both regional defense and economic resilience.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the crew of USCGC Frederick Hatch completed a 20-day Operation Rematau patrol covering more than 500 miles of U.S. waters from Guam to the Northern Islands, delivering 1,500 pounds of supplies to the residents of Pagan and Agrihan and conducting a 96-hour search for a swimmer lost off Tanguisson Beach.
On Guam, the week opened with the annual launch of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, with a critical deadline: the Cooling Credit application window closed March 27. And Congressman James Moylan announced the White House authorized a 60-day Jones Act waiver for oil and fuel shipments to help ease supply and pricing pressure on island families.
The CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife launched precautionary brown treesnake surveys in the San Vicente, Kanna Tabla and As Lito areas of Saipan following an unconfirmed February sighting. No snake has been confirmed. Anyone who spots an unusual snake-like animal is asked to call 670-28-SNAKE.
Also this week, the Saipan Humane Society’s active spay and neuter clinic was thrown into chaos when the Mayor’s Office removed loaned cages mid-operation. The community responded within hours, donating 43 cages so the clinic could continue through Friday. The incident drew a public statement from SHS Executive Director Amber Weston calling for stronger partnerships and shared accountability in animal welfare efforts.
In a lighter note to close the week, 186 Chamoru cultural belongings are making their way home. The Museum of Us in San Diego’s Balboa Park transferred the items to the Guam Museum this Sunday as part of its Homeward Project repatriation initiative, returning pieces that had been held in the collection for more than a century.
All stories referenced in this week’s wrap are available in full at nminewsservice.com.
