NMASA-DCCA feud heats up

Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ tug of war over the Oleai Sports Complex is heating up as both camps reiterated their claims on the operation of the contested sports facility.

Saipan Tribune learned that the never-ending dispute brewed anew when the owner of a concession stand near the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield that is located inside the sports complex inquired on whether to make payment to NMASA or DCCA. The owners were told by NMASA to contact the association, which it says has the authority and control of the management and operation of the complex and its surrounding facilities.

However, DCCA through its secretary, Melvin Faisao, claimed otherwise, stating that NMASA is under the department through the Division of Sports and Recreation, and thus matters related to NMASA administration and operation will need an approval/concurrence from DCCA.

Saipan Tribune also learned that Faisao even told NMASA president Michael White that the latter’s immediate supervisor is the director of the Division of Sports and Recreation (Jojo Attao). Faisao cited Executive Order 94-3 as basis for placing NMASA under the wing of DCCA through the Division of Sports and Recreation. The executive order superseded the law that created NMASA, but one its provisions state that the Division of Sports and Recreation’s authority over NMASA is for administration and coordination purposes only.

NMASA said it will continue to function independently.

“NMASA believes that the secretary’s interpretation of the applicable law, and the extent of his authority under it, is misplaced. NMASA is and will remain an independent organization, and not subject to the authority of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs,” White said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

Saipan Tribune also contacted Faisao via email to ask for further comments on the issue, but declined.

The NMASA-DCCA battle over the maintenance and operation of the Oleai Sports Complex has been going on since last year. A bill (House Bill 17-268, authored by Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb) is still pending at the Committee on Judiciary and Government and seeking to give NMASA the control of the complex.

Both camps have different interpretation on which group has the right to operate the complex, as Public Law 4-66 that created NMASA in 1984 stated that NMASA’s responsibilities include the operation, maintenance, and regulation of the sports facilities and fields in Commonwealth in coordination with the DCCA, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Education, Department of Public Works, and Office of the Governor. Despite the existence of the public law, the Division of Sports and Recreation has been the one in charge of the complex and has been receiving usage fees for the facilities, while NMASA is on its own.

In the pending House bill, NMASA’s control is only limited within the Oleai Sports Complex in accordance with the terms and conditions of a memorandum to be executed only among NMASA, DCCA secretary, and the Cultural Affairs, and the governor.

NMASA in previous statements said that although it is seeking support from the government (through funding for off-island competitions) and was created under a public law, it can’t be run by a government agency (DCCA). NMASA should remain an independent public corporation as doing otherwise would make the association ineligible for participation and membership to regional and international competitions, such as the Pacific Games and the University (FISU) Games, and the respective tournaments of NMASA member federations (tennis, athletics, swimming).

Saipan Tribune learned that NMASA is considering bringing the dispute to the court if the issue will not be resolved. NMASA during its previous monthly meetings announced that it tried several times to arrange a meeting with DCCA and the governor, but failed. NMASA had also submitted a budget to DCCA in the last fiscal year, but the budget was not included in the documents the latter turned over to the government.