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‘No more repeat of abuses’
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Posted on Feb 12 2006
The bill that would abolish the Marianas Public Lands Authority provides critical safeguards against abuse of public funds within the proposed department, according to the Fitial administration.
John S. Del Rosario Jr., the governor’s special policy adviser, said that the two vital and critical safeguards under the proposed measure deal with the budgetary process and the annual audit of the proposed Department of Public Lands.
He maintained that, by providing sufficient review of the activities of the proposed department, the measure presents a responsible approach to the current problem with MPLA.
According to Del Rosario, the budgetary process would fulfill two issues. “They are: 1) the return to elected leaders of the people the right to review the agency’s proposed budget to determine real needs versus ‘nice to have’ expenses; 2) the return to the elected leaders the right to institute real protection of our land and revenues generated from land leases by leadership with integrity, responsibility, accountability and maturity,” he said.
House Bill 15-57, as well as its counterpart Senate Bill 15-33, would also require annual audit of the department of the Office of the Public Auditor.
“Such an audit report would identify problems emanating from failing to follow financial policies of the department while recommending improvements that would encourage and establish accountability. Overall, the annual audit report is a sound approach to policing the policeman, so to speak. It encourages transparency in the execution of constitutional responsibilities of the proposed department,” Del Rosario said.
The two elements of the bill, he said, would ensure that the department’s funds would be used only for purposes mandated under the Constitution.
He also assured the public that the present administration and the Legislature had no intention to abuse funds from public land leases.
“It should be clear to everyone that the proposed legislation was prompted by compelling evidence to put a complete stop to blatant abuses of public funds at MPLA,” Del Rosario said.
The alleged abuses involve misappropriation of public funds, nepotism, and abuse of power by the board.
