Previous Story
‘Hawaii Liaison Office hosted no political dinner’
|
Posted on Oct 04 2005
Hawaii Liaison Officer Jean D. Sablan has denied recent reports (not in the Saipan Tribune) that her office had facilitated the campaign events of incumbent Gov. Juan N. Babauta in Honolulu.
In statements issued to the Saipan Tribune, Sablan said there were “gross inaccuracies” in reports that said that that governor went on personal leave to campaign in Hawaii “during a gathering organized by the CNMI Liaison Office.”
Sablan said there were, in fact, two “separate and unrelated events” held on Sept. 25, 2005 in Honolulu.
One was a gathering at Magic Coconut Island for CNMI residents and “organized by CNMI citizens only.”
“This event was not organized by CNMI’s Honolulu Liaison Office,” Sablan said.
She said she was on a personal leave from Sept. 15 to Sept. 25 and “was not at this function.”
Sablan’s office said she was flying in from New York, arriving in Honolulu just one hour before the second event, a dinner at Pagoda Hotel and Restaurant.
Sablan said this dinner event is “a bi-annual gathering” for patients and escorts that the governor hosts when he passes by Honolulu.
“At this dinner buffet meeting, Gov. Babauta talked only informally to each of his guests about their own personal health status and education issues,” said the office.
In an interview over a week ago, press secretary Peter A. Callaghan said that Babauta filed for a two-day personal leave. It was learned that the governor went to Honolulu, “using non-public funds.”
Babauta is seeking re-election, together with Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, this year.
Other gubernatorial candidates include the Covenant Party’s Benigno Fitial and Tim Villagomez, Democratic Party’s Froilan Tenorio and Antonio Santos, and independent candidates Heinz Hofschneider and David Apatang.
