The Northern Mariana Islands, east of the Philippines and south of Japan, include the islands of Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Pagan, Guguan, Agrihan, and Aguijan. Although sighted by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 as he sailed for Spain, the islands were not settled by Europeans until 1668, when missionaries converted the indigenous Chamorro people to Catholicism. They were ruled successively by Spain, Germany, and Japan before they became a UN Trusteeship (administered by the U.S.) after World War II. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) became part of the United States in Nov. 1986. Spanish cultural traditions remain strong.
In recent years, Saipan's garment industry has been accused of exploiting thousands of Asian immigrants. Saipan's territorial status enables its employers to claim their clothing is “Made in the USA,” while paying workers low wages and sidestepping import duties and tariffs.
On February 12, 2013, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) House of Representatives voted to impeach Benigno Fitial on 18 different charges. The charges against Fitial included abuse of power, neglect of his duties, and commission of felonies. Fitial became the first governor in any U.S. territory to be impeached. Next Fitial must stand trial in front of CNMI's Senate which would happen just as soon as the Senate finalized rules and regulations for the impeachment trial.
Governor Eloy S. Inos died on Dec. 28, 2015. The following day, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Torres was sworn in to replace Inos.
