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Fitial: Leadership change in CUC necessary
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Posted on May 24 2012
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial accepted Thursday morning the resignation of
Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Abe Malae, saying a
leadership change in CUC is necessary for four reasons, including lack
of aggressive action to seek out viable alternative energy sources
that would provide cheaper power.
Malae turned in his resignation late Wednesday afternoon, five days
after Fitial placed CUC under a state of emergency again.
The CUC executive director apparently was disappointed that the
governor placed CUC under a state of emergency, at a time when Malae
was in California to attend a new generation nuclear technology
presentation.
Lawmakers said it is unfortunate that the CNMI would lose its CUC
director at this time of crisis.
Fitial, in a written statement issued after he told reporters early
Thursday afternoon that he accepted Malae’s resignation, said he does
not see any prospect for change in the approach to issues of high
utility rates and alternative energy “and thus it is time to bring in
new leadership.”
Fitial is likely to designate CUC deputy executive director Alan
Fletcher to assume temporary leadership of CUC.
Meanwhile, Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) called for a 3pm
emergency session to confirm three of the governor’s nominees to the
Public Utilities Commission, which regulates CUC and other utilities
firm.
More information to follow.
