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CPA emergency extended—again
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Posted on Aug 13 2008
Gov. Benigno Fitial in an executive order issued Wednesday extended for a third time the state of emergency for the Commonwealth Ports Authority, pointing to the lack of Senate-confirmed members for the agency’s board.
The 30-day extension comes after Frank Camacho last week declined the governor’s nomination to the board for undisclosed reasons.
Earlier this year, Fitial dissolved the CPA board, saying the ports authority was on the verge of a technical default on its multi-million dollar airport revenue bond, a threat noted in the new extension order, and that the board had failed to implement measures to prevent it.
“The extreme, immediate and imminent threat such condition poses to the [CNMI] must be avoided,” the order says, adding that the declaration will remain in effect until enough CPA board appointments “have been made and consented to by the Senate.”
The Senate last month voted unanimously to confirm former Tinian senator Manuel Villagomez as a board appointee. Villagomez joins former CPA board chair Joe Lifoifoi, who was asked to rescind his May 16 resignation and stay on the board. The remaining nominees yet to be confirmed are Miriam Seman and Barry Toves.
Absalon Waki Jr., advertising sales manager for the Saipan Tribune, declined a nomination to the board earlier this month, citing professional obligations. Frank Camacho, a manager for Pacific Orient Inc., confirmed he has also declined the position.
In an interview Wednesday, Senate President Pete Reyes said lawmakers are reviewing the remaining nominees through the Executive Appointments and Government Investigations Committee.
“It’s safe to say that the Senate is going to let the EAGI committee do its job,” Reyes said, noting that he plans to call for a session on the matter Friday.
