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Fitial signs Kannat Tabla reprogramming bill into law
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Posted on May 20 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has signed into law a bill taking money away from the Kannat Tabla drainage project to pay land compensation claimants.
The bill became Saipan Local Law 16-1 despite a call from four Saipan lawmakers and over 50 constituents for a governor’s veto.
The governor’s transmittal letter to the Saipan Legislative Delegation Chairman Ramon A. Tebuteb and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios was silent on the disagreement over the bill.
Representatives Rosemond Santos, Edward Salas, and Tina Sablan, along with Sen. Maria Pangelinan, have called on the governor to disapprove what they called an “ill advised piece of legislation.” They maintained that the measure would re-appropriate funds from an ongoing project to “special interest earmarks.”
“[The] Kannat Tabla drainage project is of critical importance to the residents of the area, who for far too long have experienced regular flooding and poor road conditions. Although the intent of the…bill to provide relief or support for various community interests may have merit, the Kannat Tabla project is badly needed and is in fact already underway,” the lawmakers said in a petition also signed by 55 local residents.
Under the new law, $250,000 of the Kannat Tabla drainage funds will be re-appropriated for the land compensation of Jose Camacho, who has won a civil suit against the government. About $200,000 will be used to compensate unnamed landowners at Kannat Tabla whose properties had been taken by government.
The balance will be divided among the JROTC Army ball ($8,000), the Oceania Championship Games ($30,000), and the Saipan Fishermen’s Association ($10,000).
Rep. David M. Apatang sponsored the bill.
The Saipan delegation passed the measure by a vote of 14-5. Those who voted against the bill are Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan and Reps. Stanley Torres, Joseph Reyes, Sablan, and Salas. Rep. Ray Yumul did not vote, and Santos was absent.
