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‘MPLA paid for travel of non-employees’
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Posted on Nov 29 2006
Lawmakers, attorneys, and consultants received huge amounts for traveling on behalf of the former Marianas Public Lands Authority, according to a report by the Office of the Public Auditor.
Of the 195 MPLA travel authorizations reviewed by OPA, 26 involved trips performed by non-MPLA officials or employees from Oct. 1, 2000 to Feb. 28, 2006.
The cost of the trips, including airfare, per diem, car rental, ground transportation, and other expenses, totaled $142,467.37.
These trips and travel expenses, according to OPA, “appeared to be improper and or not related to MPLA official business.”
A list of the 26 trips showed that 17 of the non-employee travels paid for by MPLA were performed by lawyer Ramon Quichocho. His trips, while he was working as a contract legal counsel for MPLA between 2003 and 2006, cost nearly $100,000.
Four unnamed senators also traveled at MPLA’s expense during the same period. Two of the senators went together to Washington, D.C. for nine days in early 2003 to attend a conference on “Integrating Land and Water Management.” One spent $7,165 and the other $8,455, including per diem payments of $2,000 each.
Another senator traveled for 11 days to Perth and Canberra in Australia, also in 2003, to attend a meeting with the indigenous land corporation and various other meetings. He spent $7,940 in MPLA funds.
The fourth senator went to Arizona in March 2004. The purpose stated in the travel authorization was “to accompany members of the MPLA board and staff to Phoenix where they will meet with representatives of Azmar International, the company which has submitted an application to use public land in Pagan. The meeting will provide them with first-hand information about the company and its directors.” The trip cost MPLA $3,279.
In June 2004, a female member of the House of Representatives went to Honolulu “to meet with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials regarding the Habitat Conservation Plan for the proposed agricultural homestead project on Rota.” Her trip cost MPLA $3,785.
A consultant also made off-island trips to Manila, the Philippines and Honolulu, Hawaii, courtesy of MPLA. His trips cost $2,698 and $4,369, respectively.
