Fitial hires ex-governor Babauta for $1

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial confirmed yesterday that he has hired former governor Juan N. Babauta as his special adviser for health matters for a bargain price of just a $1 annually.

Fitial said Babauta has been helping him put together the health issues that he will be discussing at an upcoming meeting of the Region 9 Federal Regional Council in San Francisco, California.

The Federal Regional Council is a consortium of 19 separate federal departments and agencies representing nearly 30 different program offices in Region 9, which covers Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Outer Pacific Islands.

Fitial said this will be an important meeting, and Babauta will be of big help.

“He has master’s degree in health, and he has done a lot of research. I asked him if I can bring him in. He said he will help me out, but just to be official, he asked to be given a $1 per annum contract,” Fitial told Saipan Tribune in an interview at the Fourth of July Parade yesterday.

Babauta has a master’s degree in health planning and administration from the University of Cincinnati. The former governor also has a bachelor’s degree in American history and political science, and another master’s degree in political science, both from Eastern New Mexico University.

Fitial said that Babauta discussed his $1 contract during a meeting yesterday morning with members of the House leadership. Babauta said he could not comment at this time.

Before going to San Francisco for the Region 9 Federal Regional Council Meeting, Fitial will be going to Nagoya for a heart treatment. He is set to leave today. He will also go to Washington, D.C. and Utah.

Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos also said yesterday that they have decided to hire former Department of Lands and Natural Resources secretary Dr. Ignacio “Ike” Dela Cruz as CNMI veterinarian.

Inos said they have yet to finalize the contract terms and conditions.

At the same time, Inos and Fitial denied reports that the administration hired some 800 new employees during the austerity period, when many employees are subjected to a 16-hour cut every two weeks.

Inos said the government only hires critical service employees, whether new or replacements.

The lieutenant governor said 800 is about three-fourths of the entire Executive Branch employees, estimated at 1,200.