Sparks fly as CPA chooses new executive director

Tempers flared last Friday as the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors discussed the controversial executive director position that has been officially offered to Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher Concepcion.

Despite the Palacios-Apatang administration’s request to refrain from selecting a new executive director in place of former director Christopher Tenorio, majority of the CPA board of directors voted last Friday to offer the position to MVA’s Concepcion.

Sparks flew when CPA board member (and one of the applicants for the position) Antonio Cabrera chimed in during the board’s deliberation process.

Cabrera first brought up his concerns about how the board handled the selection process for a new executive director—by creating an ad-hoc committee consisting of government and private sector representatives who essentially selected three applicants who were recommended to the board—before he shared his insight on the board’s selection of Concepcion.

“I’m sure you’re aware why CPA is an autonomous agency: to insulate itself from conflict of interests, and corruption by government officials and private sector entities. Now, including outsiders to select or recommend the best candidates for this position, is undesirable and unnecessary. By including private and government sectors in CPA’s decision-making, [this] is a recipe for disaster,” he said.

Before recusing himself, Cabrera stated that the new executive director has to be well versed in the issues of all the CNMI ports and he believes Concepcion isn’t.

“I would like to see an executive director that is ‘very qualified,’ and we have had that in the past, and not just take anyone off of the street. The new executive director has to be mindful about what is going on at both the seaport and airports [on] all three islands. He has to multi-task, but he [Concepcion] doesn’t have any background or experience; it’s a disaster! That’s all I want to express. Let’s be mindful that this agency is one of the best in the CNMI,” he said.

In response, CPA chair Kimberlyn King-Hinds stated that, although Cabrera’s objections were duly noted, the fact that he was taking part in the deliberation process was a conflict as he had applied for the position while serving as a CPA board member.

“The fact that you applied is a conflict as a sitting board member, based on the regulations. The fact that you’re talking about anything as it relates to the executive director is a conflict and it boggles my mind that you can’t see that conflict,” she said.

Cabrera’s temper flared in response, stating that he consulted with others about his plans to apply for the position, including the Office of Personnel Management, and that none informed him about a conflict.

King-Hinds stated that CPA’s legal counsel and she herself had informed him of a conflict, but he refused to listen.

“I personally reached out to you, I told you, you had a conflict and you came back and stated that you had consulted with an attorney. The administration was trying to set up a conversation between you and your legal counsel to go over the Ethics Act and the laws which govern CPA as it relates to our fiduciary duty. And the fact that you’re still part of this conversation given the fact that we’re supposed to vote for an executive director makes you a conflict,” she retorted.

The heated argument continued between the two board members as Cabrera raised the issue about Lt. Gov. David Apatang’s request to the existing board to refrain from selecting a new executive director until the administration’s board nominees are appointed.

“Now I am referring to the letter from the Governor’s Office to this body to refrain from selecting a new executive director and to leave it to the new board members. The executive director and the board have to work together,” Cabrera said.

In defense of the remaining board members whose terms have yet to expire, King-Hinds asked, “What are they? Chopped liver? They don’t matter? Their terms don’t matter?”

The argument ended with Cabrera walking out of the CPA conference room at the seaport and the board voted 5-1 in favor of offering the position to Concepcion.