Local Homeland Security Office created

The CNMI has created its own Homeland Security Office, four years after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed yesterday House Bill 14-15, which aims to set up an Office of the Homeland Security under the Governor’s Office.

In yesterday’s signing, Babauta said that, although the bill does not appropriate funding, he approved it anyway due to its importance.

“I think this is a very important bill. …The creation of the office will allow the CNMI government to significantly increase its capability to protect the lives and properties of our citizens and visitors in the event of a threat of terrorism or act of terrorism in the CNMI,” said Babauta.

He said the measure merely taps the “indirect cost charged from all federal grants relating or pertaining to Homeland Security.”

The same “indirect costs,” he said, have also been identified as a revenue source for CNMI government operations.

Babauta instructed the Department of Finance yesterday to work closely with all departments and autonomous agencies that may be affected by the deduction of indirect costs.

He said the newly created office would be headed by a special assistant, a post that goes to the governor’s current special advisor for Homeland Security Jerry Crisostimo.

The law also creates a deputy special assistant position and representatives for Rota and Tinian.

Further, the law creates the CNMI Terrorism Advisory Board, chaired by the special assistant, and a “Terrorism Task Force,” which consists of the heads of the Emergency Management Office, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Department of Public Health, Division of Customs, and the Homeland Security Office.

Meantime, the governor said in his transmittal letter to the Legislature yesterday that the measure failed to address certain issues related to the duties and responsibilities for the offices of Homeland Security Representative on Rota and Tinian. It also does not provide representatives from the Office of the Mayor of Saipan and Northern Islands.

Likewise, it did not exempt the special assistant’s salary of $60,000 from the present salary cap. Further, he said that it is uncertain which agency would be responsible for paying any overtime work.

The governor called on the Legislature to pass subsequent legislation to address these concerns.

House Bill 14-15, authored by Rep. Clyde Norita, becomes Public Law 14-62.