Appointments of Ayuyu, Mesngon, Kiyoshi to CPA board OK’d

The Senate confirmed yesterday the appointments of businessman Jose C. Ayuyu, former Rota senator Steve King Mesngon, and retired U.S. Army command major sergeant Dolores Pangelinan Kiyoshi to serve on the board of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

All six senators present in yesterday’s session voted “yes” to adopt the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations’ report that recommends confirming the nominations of Ayuyu, Mesngon, and Kiyoshi.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios appointed Ayuyu to serve on the CPA board representing Saipan and the Northern Islands, while Mesngon will represent Rota, and Kiyoshi will represent Tinian and Aguiguan.

EAGI Committee vice chair Sen. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) said that Ayuyu’s business acumen and his morality was best demonstrated in his assertion to promote competition, reinvestment in government infrastructure and, more importantly, to foster efficiency in the workplace and to eliminate duplication and wasteful use of public resources.

Manglona said the committee believes that Ayuyu will bring his expertise as an economist to move the CPA board.

He said the CPA board needs new or fresh ideas to resolve long-standing problems, which has led to the exorbitantly unaffordable costs of living in the Commonwealth.

Ayuyu was not at the Senate session yesterday as he is off-island.

Ayuyu is president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s of Saipan and Guam. He has other business interests in real estate rentals of apartments and commercial buildings.

With respect to the appointment of Mesngon, Manglona said the nominee’s experience of serving in the Legislature for many years would balance his duty as an important member and affords him the necessary familiarity to recommend legislative modifications to policies affecting all ports in the CNMI.

As for the appointment of Kiyoshi, the vice chairman said the committee has no doubt that the nominee will serve the CPA board with the same respect, duty, loyalty, self-service, integrity, and personal courage as she did in the U.S. Army.