Public Auditor Michael Pai yesterday denied accusations that he leaked the Inspector General investigation on the Fitial administration\u2019s $392,406 sole-source contract with former Commerce secretary Michael Ada\u2019s firm.<\/p>\n
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for Guam and the CNMI, meanwhile, released a statement to Pacific News Center saying that the IG report on the Commonwealth\u2019s management of ARRA funds is currently pending and under review.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are unable to comment on the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Inspector General\u2019s report as the matter is currently pending and under review by our office,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
Forced response<\/p>\n
Attorney General Edward Buckingham last Sunday lashed out at Pai in a press release to Saipan Tribune for failing \u201cto ensure the confidentiality of OPA documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although usually reticent about making public comments, Pai said he believes that a response to Buckingham\u2019s allegation is required. <\/p>\n
\u201cI take the responsibilities entrusted to OPA very seriously. One of those responsibilities is to maintain certain records in a confidential manner. I have taken, and always will take, all reasonable and necessary steps to ensure that confidential records are maintained confidentially, including dealing severely with any OPA employee or contractor who violates such confidentiality requirements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pai said OPA didn\u2019t have a hand in leaking the IG\u2019s report on the privatization of CNMI ARRA funds to the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo circumstances have been presented to me to indicate any breach of our confidentiality standards. The complained of record was distributed to numerous other CNMI and federal government officials,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The public auditor added that a copy of the report was issued in redacted form and can be accessed thorugh: http:\/\/www.doioig.gov\/images\/stories\/reports\/pdf\/CNMIARRAManagement%20-%20Public.pdf <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy OPA has been accused of such a leak I do not know or understand,\u201d he said. (See full text of Michael Pai\u2019s statement on Page 11)<\/p>\n
Pai, meanwhile, confirmed that OPA is in the process of routing a contract with the Law Offices of Sean E. Frink to represent them at a discounted hourly rate in the attorney general\u2019s lawsuit. <\/p>\n
\u201cHaving to hire an attorney to handle a lawsuit filed by one government official against another is not something that I would like to see government spent money on. Unfortunately, the subject matter of the lawsuit requires outside counsel due to conflicts of interest with existing OPA attorneys,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pai said other allegations the attorney general raised in his press release to the Saipan Tribune, is better answered face to face.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs to the other allegations contained in the Tribune article, I respectfully disagree and urge the Attorney General to address any issues with me and the way that my office is run, directly with me, rather than meeting with the press.\u201d<\/p>\n
What will happen to ARRA funding?<\/p>\n
Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal, for her part, hopes the \u201capparent violations\u201d of CNMI procurement and ethics rules and regulations of Ada\u2019s sole-source contract wouldn\u2019t hurt the islands\u2019 chances of getting more ARRA fundings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was apparent last October that the awarding of the ARRA contract to Ada raised questions, which is obviously why the DOI Inspector General and the Office of the Public Auditor conducted investigations. The DOI report revealed that there were indeed ethics and procurement violations, and stated that the contract was null and void. So the question now is, will any federal funds have to be returned and is remaining ARRA money in jeopardy because of the violations?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Doromal said as a federal taxpayer it is disappointing to keep hearing about the misuse of federal funds in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s with an Arts Council grant, an Americorps grant, or ARRA funding, the refusal of the offending parties to take responsibility for the violations, the lame excuses and the ridiculous and unfounded criticism of Congressman Sablan is disturbing. The fact that the U.S. AG declined to prosecute the case is also perplexing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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