Previous Story
Pai wants to continue work as CNMI public auditor
»Inos yet to decide as Pai’s 6-year term expires in October
Public Auditor Michael Pai said he is “interested in continuing” his work as CNMI public auditor but he said he and Gov. Eloy S. Inos have not had a chance to discuss this in detail yet. The governor separately told Saipan Tribune he hasn’t “gone that far yet,” but said he’s aware that Pai’s six-year term expires in October.
Former governor Benigno R. Fitial appointed Pai on July 22, 2008, to replace Michael Sablan, who resigned while serving his second term as public auditor. Three months later, in October 2008, the House and Senate confirmed Pai’s appointment as public auditor.
“We are quite proud of the accomplishments of the Office of the Public Auditor during my term, including the refocusing of the audit operations and increasing the number of audits,” Pai said in an email response to Saipan Tribune questions.
Pai said that OPA has also enhanced the government corruption and white collar crime investigations division “and believe that there will be cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General in the pursuit of corruption in the coming months.”
OPA has also improved the processing of appeals of procurement decisions, he said.
Also under Pai’s term as public auditor, OPA “successfully prosecuted” former attorney general Edward T. Buckingham “for the crimes he committed while in office.”
Last Feb. 19, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo found Buckingham guilty of all public corruption charges except one and sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison, all suspended.
“Our hope is that in the next six years, the audit staff will grow and the office’s value to the CNMI will be further enhanced by additional staff that will be integrated into an already effective organization,” Pai added.
Pai has been a certified public accountant for more than 20 years. He attended the University of Hawaii, where he completed degrees in engineering and business administration. He put up his own accounting firm in 1986, after working for a number of corporations and an accounting firm. He was also a shareholder for some businesses based in Guam, Minnesota, and Saipan.
