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Picnic tables and ethics
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Posted on Mar 17 2005
To Mr. Michael S. Sablan
Public Auditor
More often these days when you go to rosaries or funerals around the island, you can see picnic tables with the names of politicians printed on them. You can even see these tables being hauled around the island during government working hours, on government vehicles, by government employees.
I would like to know if funerals, anniversaries or rosaries are included in the definition of “public purpose.” I would also like to know if, under the Code of Ethics Act, public funds can be used to manufacture these picnic tables. Can public funds also be used to pay workers to move and deliver these tables during government working hours using government vehicles?
This is a serious matter especially when the government is experiencing less revenue to catch up with its obligations. The Legislature should be more concerned and it should start amending laws so that it becomes difficult to use “public funds” for personal gain by elected officials. We need more prudent and fiscally responsible legislators in our government.
Please look into this issue so we can stop the waste of public funds and violations of the Code of Ethics.
Frank DLG. Camacho
Saipan
