3-night yearend meeting on Rota for MPLT board

The Marianas Public Lands Trust board members decided to hold their yearend meeting on Rota, staying there for three nights beginning Dec. 28.

The board, based on its published agenda, discussed one “old business” topic: APLE 501, a problematic loan agreement it entered with a Rota-based non-profit organization.

Meantime, the MPLT office on Saipan was closed for three days from Dec. 28 to Dec. 30.

The MPLT consists of only two staff and consultant/executive director Bruce Macmillan, who is currently on vacation.

The board meeting on Rota was convened by vice chair Herman R. Guerrero.

Members who attended the meeting were Edith Deleon Guerrero and Vianney Hocog.

Tinian member Joseph San Nicolas was excused due to a family emergency.

Board chair Juan S. Torres participated in the meeting via phone.

The board meeting was held at 6:30pm at Rota Northern Marianas College campus on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29.

Saipan-bound MPLT staff and members reportedly came back yesterday noon.

In a recent report, the Office of Public Auditor disclosed that MPLT spent over $500,000 in travel expenses for fiscal years 2002 to 2004.

The OPA also said that board compensation totaled nearly $300,000 during the three-year period.

MPLT bylaws provide that the board shall meet once a month or 12 times a year.

OPA said that MPLT met 50 times in 2002, 115 times in FY 2003, and 90 meetings in FY 2004.

In February 2004, the board adopted a new per meeting fee of $150 for half day meetings and $300 for full day meetings.

Meanwhile, reports said that MPLT sued APLE 501, a non-profit organization and its four founding officers for allegedly inducing MPLT to enter into a $1 million loan agreement for educational purposes.

According to MPLT, the group represented that the proceeds from the loan were to be used to provide low interest loans to students of Northern Marianas descents who are residents of Rota or their parents for educational purposes.

These representations, MPLT said, caused it to make an initial disbursement of $154,924.

MPLT said it learned that over 50 percent of the amount disbursed was distributed to APLE members or members of their immediate families without proper loan documentation.

MPLT asked the Superior Court to issue a judgment declaring APLE 501 liable to pay the principal sum of $143,155.69 plus accrued interest in the amount of $5,642.52 or a total of $148,798.2 with interest.

MPLT said it entered into a loan agreement with APLE on Aug. 23, 2002 for $1 million to be given on an installment basis.