Stanley resigns as PUTC chair

Rep. Stanley T. Torres yesterday resigned as chairman of the Public Utilities and Telecommunications Committee because of what he perceives as too much meddling on the part of the House leadership on how the current power crisis in the CNMI should be handled by his office.

“It is clear that we have different intentions with regard to how the power issue should be handled in the Commonwealth. It is also clear that you and other members of the House will continue to exert undue pressure and influence on this process until your objectives are met. Since this situation is not going to improve, I resign as chairman of the House Committee on Public Utilities, giving way for you and the other members to do as you like,” said the lawmaker in a letter to House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios dated March 26.

The last straw appeared to be yesterday’s confirmation of Kimberly King-Hinds as a member of the Public Utilities Commission by the House on a vote of 14-5 with one abstention, despite Torres’ opposition to her appointment.

The Saipan congressman said that appointees to PUC have not been properly evaluated in the past and though they have advanced college degrees, all current appointees have admitted—to their credit—that they do not have the qualifications to sit on this commission.

He was especially critical of the nomination of King-Hinds, who was not present in yesterday’s session.

“There has been considerable pressure on my committee to rubber stamp these nominees, most members insisting that an interview of one nominee, Kimberly King-Hinds was unnecessary. I disagree with that assessment. I am convinced that the information provided in her financial disclosure statement is not entirely accurate,” said Torres.

He also pointed out that, although King-Hinds indicated that she has no business affiliations with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Torres found out that she holds a position in a water company on Tinian. “While legal counsels and others have stated that there is no conflict of interest, I do not agree.”

Torres also took issue with the creation of the PUC itself.

“This community has been struggling with inadequate power service for many, many years. And now because of mismanagement covering a 10-year period or more and high fuel prices, the general public is suffering from power outages and high power rates. Our response to this crisis is and continues to be the creation of more commissions,” he said.

“Somehow, Mr. Speaker, I know that it’s important to you and other members that a special subcommittee on power be created, despite my opinion that I need to reassess, unless the purpose of a newly created subcommittee is to steer the privatization issue in a particular direction?” he asked.

Torres ran as an Independent candidate in the last election.

Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments from House Speaker Palacios last night but calls made to his cell phone were not answered.