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Sablan appointed as Hawaii liaison officer
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Posted on Feb 10 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta recently appointed businesswoman Jeanette D. Sablan as the liaison officer for the CNMI Hawaii Liaison Office in Honolulu.
Sablan, one of the stakeholders in the family-owned Pacific Gardenia Hotel, which is currently under a receivership, assumed the liaison position last month.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta, in his Jan 25, 2005 memorandum, said that her designation shall take effect immediately.
He said Sablan would be responsible for maintaining the headquarters in Honolulu. Sablan would also be responsible for assisting the administration “in faithfully executing the laws of the Commonwealth, including those laws, regulations and policies regarding off-island medical referrals, student assistance, and other matters.”
“The Lt. Gov. [Diego T. Benavente] and I have the utmost confidence in the abilities of Ms. Sablan and are confident that she will be a significant asset to the administration and to the people of the CNMI who rely upon the CNMI Hawaii Liaison Office,” said Babauta.
Sablan replaced David Ayuyu in the Hawaii Liaison Office post.
Last year, a special investigation committee at the House of Representatives ruled out any evidence of serious irregularities concerning the office’s services to medical referral patients.
Rep. Clyde Norita, chair of two separate special committees tasked to investigate the liaison office and the allegations filed by a patient’s family, said that although there are several complaints about abuses, “the committee finds none that would render such actions illegal.”
The investigations stemmed from a complaint lodged by Ramon Sakisat, whose son was referred to Hawaii for a two-year treatment.
Sakisat alleged discriminatory and corrupt practices and mismanagement of public funds and transportation delays, among others.
The committee said that, although there may be minor accounting discrepancies, the committee said it would rely on the Office of the Public Auditor, which has began its audit of the office.
The committee, in the report, recommended that the Commonwealth seek another liaison office, relocate the liaison to Pagoda Hotel or near it to alleviate some of the delays in bringing patients to or from the hospital.
