‘MPLA chair has the power to hire, fire’

Some Marianas Public Lands Authority employees took exception yesterday to the statement of agency chair Ana Demapan-Castro that she had not had a hand in the hiring of some of her relatives within the agency.

The employees, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said Demapan-Castro has the absolute authority to hire and fire any employee at the MPLA.

“She’s [Demapan-Castro] is responsible for the hiring of all her relatives,” the employees said.

They showed the Saipan Tribune a copy of a July 30, 2003 memorandum signed by MPLA board vice chair Manuel P. Villagomez and former board members Pedro J.L. Igitol and the late Pedro M. Atalig that designated Demapan-Castro to be the chairperson of the agency’s personnel committee.

The memo states: “All matters concerning job applications, interviews, and selections shall be referred to the chairperson, for her approval and consent, before any action(s) is/are taken, whether adverse or not. Moreover, the board, by this memo, hereby gives the chairperson full and complete authority to exercise the administrative powers granted to the board pursuant to P.L. 12-33, as amended.”

Public Law 12-33, as amended gives the MPLA board the power “to select, employ, promote and terminate employees, employ contractors and consultants, employ legal counsels and to take any other action necessary for the management or disposition of public lands”—and the board’s memo delegated this power to Demapan-Castro.

The memo also delegated to Demapan-Castro the authority to terminate for cause any MPLA employee who, in her discretion, is not efficiently performing his duties or not complying with the agency’s regulations.

The concerned board members said the delegation of powers to Demapan-Castro would be “in the interest of administrative economy and efficiency,” citing that there are personnel matters that at times require prompt action by the board. “It is not always practical to convene the entire board to deal with such problems.”

On Tuesday, Demapan-Castro denied any hand in the hiring of some of her relatives at the agency, saying that it is board member Nicolas Nekai who heads the agency’s hiring committee. She also said her relatives are qualified for their respective jobs at the agency.

MPLA insiders earlier lamented the hiring practices at the agency, disclosing that Demapan-Castro’s brother, David Demapan, is the MPLA’s chief financial officer, while her daughter Sharee Maratita is the chief of the Real Estate and Development Division.

MPLA insiders further disclosed that Demapan-Castro’s son-in-law Anthony Benavente is inspector at the Homestead Division; stepson Fred Castro works for the Planning Division; and John Hofschneider used to work for the Real Estate and Development Division.

Hofschneider’s mother, Louise Hofschneider, said her son John is not the son-in-law of Demapan-Castro, but added that the former MPLA employee is boyfriend of a daughter of the MPLA chair. The mother insisted, though, that her son got his job at the agency due to his credentials and not because of ties with Demapan-Castro.

MPLA public information officer Ed Arriola, Jr. has yet to release any statement from the agency and its chair regarding some employees’ allegations belying Demapan-Castro’s Tuesday statement.