Gov. Benigno R. Fitial expressed strong disappointment yesterday over comments made by Resident Representative Pedro A. Tenorio regarding the alleged failure of the governor to attend the April 19 hearing before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.
"I believe it is important to correct such a blatant misrepresentation," the governor said. "I was never invited. In fact, we were told we could attend a later hearing because this hearing was supposed to be exclusively for federal agencies."
The governor and several Cabinet members met with a delegation from the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs headed by Tony Babauta on April 5, 2007. During that meeting, Fitial and others from his administration expressed concern that the CNMI would not be invited to the April 19 hearing.
Babauta assured the CNMI that the April 19 hearing was only for federal government witnesses and that a second hearing would provide an opportunity for the CNMI to testify. "I respected the committee’s wishes and I am prepared to testify at the second hearing, along with other members of my Cabinet," said Fitial.
The administration was surprised that Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio was invited to testify in a hearing that the administration understood to be strictly for federal agencies only.
In an interview with reporters after the Commonwealth's State of the Judiciary Address on March 30, 2007, Fitial openly stated that he would travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs' hearing if invited.
In February, Fitial dispatched Lt. Governor Timothy P. Villagomez and other administration officials to attend the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing on CNMI labor and immigration issues, at the invitation of the Senate committee. The governor could not attend the Senate hearing because he was still recovering from spinal surgery; however, he met with Senate Energy Committee staff members Allen Stayman and Josh Johnson when they visited the CNMI on Feb. 27.
”Given the seriousness of the misrepresentation, the Resident Representative should exercise more responsibility in checking his facts. The people of the CNMI deserve better," said press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.
Reyes added that the administration has been working very closely with the legislative leadership and the private business sector to address federal issues, while Tenorio “continues to pursue a unilateral and non-collaborative agenda that only undermines the CNMI's position in our nation's capital.”
“We should be working together for the benefit of the CNMI, not undermining our government at the expense of the CNMI's economy,” said Reyes.
The governor hopes the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, David B. Cohen, will help set the record straight regarding the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs' decision not to invite a representative of the CNMI administration, Legislature, or private sector, when Resident Rep. Pedro A. Tenorio was given an opportunity to speak on behalf of the CNMI, after the CNMI's central government was told that the hearing was for federal agencies only.
The administration first learned of the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs' hearing on March 28, during 902 consultations with David Cohen, and was eager to attend.
Fitial plans to be in Washington, D.C., from May 6 to May 9, to attend the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders. (PR)
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