Celebrating 36 years ~ AG’S Cup to be held on May 1, 2020

Attorney General Edward Manibusan and the Steering Committee are pleased to announce the 36th Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition to be held on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 9:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

“I am proud to present this year’s Attorney’s General Cup Speech Competition and to allow our high school students to debate a topic of such importance to our community. I invite our students and community to witness such great talents from our schools,” states Attorney General Manibusan.

This year’s topic focuses on abortion. The United States Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, is a landmark decision issued in 1973. The Court ruled as unconstitutional a Texas law that banned abortion unless to save a women’s life. The Court held that a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The decision effectively legalized abortion across the United States.

Prior to Roe v. Wade, abortion was illegal throughout most of the United States. The Court’s decision has proved to be contentious dividing Americans on the issue of whether women should have the right to choose to have an abortion. After Roe v. Wade, many states enacted state laws placing restrictions on abortion rights. This year the Supreme Court will take up a Louisiana case which require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital within 30 miles of the facility where the abortion is performed.

Nine (9) high schools have been invited to participate in this year’s competition. The high schools include: Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Tinian High School, Saipan International School and Kagman High School.

The Office of the Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI. For more information on the competition, please contact Carla T. Hocog or Andrea Manese at the Office of the Attorney General’s Capitol Hill office at 237-7500.

The 35th Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on Friday, May 3, 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

This year, seven high schools will be participating in the competition and they include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Kagman High School.

The 35th annual speech competition focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year’s topic is centered on the following: Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

Judging the AG’s Cup speech competition this year are current and former Attorneys General, Guam Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, and Chief Judge for the District Court of the NMI Ramona V. Manglona.

The ceremonial Posting of the Colors will be conducted by the JROTC Dolphin Battalion of Marianas High school, and alongside performing the CNMI and National anthem are the talented Marianas High School Glee Club.

The competition will be live streamed via the CNMI Attorney General’s Cup Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2019CNMIAGCUP. Additionally, the broadcasting group of Marianas High School will perform the video production of the speech competition.

The Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI on May 3, at 9:00 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. For more information on the Attorney General’s Cup, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237- 7600.

35th Annual AG’s Cup Speech Competition is Scheduled for May 3rd, 2019

The Attorney General is pleased to announce that the 35th Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition will be held on May 3rd, 2019 at 9:30 am at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.

Eight (8) high schools will be participating in this year’s competition. The schools include Dr. Rita Inos High School, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Marianas High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Tinian High School, and Kagman High School.

“The AG’s Cup Speech Competition provides the CNMI’s high school students with the opportunity to research an issue that affects the Commonwealth, form a position on the issue, and showcase their voice and passion on the topic,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He adds, “The AG’s Cup Steering Committee have been meeting and working diligently in preparation for this event and we are delighted to have eight high schools join us this year.”

This year’s topic focuses on the legalization of Cannabis in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: The issue presented in this year’s competition is:

Is the passage of Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, a cure or a curse for the Commonwealth? Will it help or hurt the CNMI in the short term or the long term?

In preparing their speech, the students are asked to consider the following: 1) Cannabis is still illegal federally; discuss how this could affect production and consumption of Cannabis in the CNMI. How has it affected production and consumption in other jurisdictions? 2) What types of regulatory systems have been developed in other jurisdictions that allow recreational Cannabis use? 3) What have been the positives and negatives associated with recreational Cannabis use in jurisdictions that have legalized its use?

“The passing of Public Law 20-66 on September 21, 2018 made for a historic, yet, contentious topic in the CNMI,” says Attorney General Manibusan. He continues, “The topic is of great significance for the students to provide objective analysis and research to decision makers on cannabis policy that will have a significant impact on our community.

The Office of the Attorney General welcomes the public to attend the event and support the students of the CNMI. For more information on the Speech Competition, please contact Ms. Keola Taisacan at the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division at 237-7600.

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