CDA’s Quitugua being eased out?

Commonwealth Development Authority board chair Tom Glenn Quitugua is complaining that he feels alienated over recent “uncooperative” actions by the CDA management.

Quitugua, who has kept his post despite calls from the Executive Branch for his resignation, claimed that the CDA management, headed by acting executive director Oscar Camacho, denied him travel authorizations to come to Saipan. Quitugua lives on Rota.

“I’ve been asking for almost six weeks now to come up here to do my obligations. He’s never been cooperative at all,” said Quitugua in an interview on Saipan yesterday.

The chairman said he used his own money to pay for his trip to CDA.

Messages left with Camacho’s office were not returned as of press time.

Quitugua further alleged that the CDA administration disrespected his authority as chairman by asking another person to sign CDA documents.

He claimed that the CDA administration gave those documents to board member Manny Sablan, who is the chairman of the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. board.

“I’m surprised to find out that he [Mr. Sablan] is signing checks on my behalf. There’s not even an attempt to inform me of this. I wouldn’t do that. Whatever happened to the protocol?” said Quitugua.

He said he would discuss this matter with the CDA legal counsel.

“I will get to the bottom of this. Let’s look at the proper protocol. Some follow their own instinct but I prefer to follow the law,” said Quitugua.

Quitugua said Camacho may have been “buckling down to the political pressure.”

Of the seven-member CDA board, Quitugua, Sablan, and Antonio Borja refused to resign from the board.

Their four colleagues meantime, who heeded the Fitial administration’s call for resignation, regained their posts last week.

Members Marcie Tomokanie, Edwin Hofschneider, Pedro Itibus, and Vincent Calvo, have been reappointed and sworn-in for another four years on the board.

Quitugua said he welcomes his colleagues back.

He said he is open to the likelihood of him getting voted out as chairman during an election of officers.

“We have not met as a full board, though. When we do, I’d surely respect their decision,” he said.

He assumed the post about eight months ago.

He said that he is the first Rotanese to hold the position, which is usually reserved for members from Saipan.