The Association of Mariana Islands mayors, vice mayors, and elected municipal council members convened on Saipan to discuss regional issues. Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, who is the president of the regional association, welcomed Marianas leaders.

"We are gathered here as representatives of our municipalities united in our shared commitment to serving our communities with diligence and dedication," he shared.

On Friday, the mayors discussed a range of issues that impact the Marianas, including the cost of interisland travel and tourism.

Mayor of Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Louise Rivera also serves as the secretary for the association, and said, "We do promote 'One Marianas'. We are all sister islands. And so we are all concerned about the same things. And we're hoping to accomplish what we can together as one."

The meeting comes at a critical time, especially for NMI residents, whose government is in a financial crisis. Saipan Mayor RB Camacho said, "We have other pressing issues here and working together with Guam mayors. And my top priority to seek help from these Guam mayors is how can we help each other? Because we have a situation on Tinian, Saipan, and Rota on this medical referral and we're on financial constraint and with this collaboration, teamwork and the centralization, I think it's possible."

Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog shared similar concerns, saying, "One of the things that we talked about with a lot of our visitors on Guam is the high cost of transportation, airline transportation. And so they are interested also into looking how they can charter boats between Guam to Rota and travel that way and incorporate fishing and you know, I guess, touring, you know, around the island via the water."