Previous Story
Library board has yet to decide on Gonzales’ fate
Joeten Kiyu Public Library board members have yet to decide on the fate of its executive director, John Oliver Gonzales, despite earlier announcing that action will be taken at the end of last week or starting this week.
Community members, through online comments and social media, have already spoken out. Some of them said that Gonzales should not remain in his position as the head of JKPL, while others said the board should reinstate Gonzales elsewhere.
JKPL employees have also expressed their opinions, with the majority not wanting Gonzales to return. One staff who wants to remain anonymous said she resigned by emailing Gonzales her resignation letter. The former staff claimed that she was on maternity leave prior to her resignation and that Gonzales pressed her to either return to work immediately or resign.
So far the library continues to operate normally under a compromise reached between the JKPL board and employees on Feb. 23. The JKPL staff walked out on Gonzales on Feb. 18, complaining of a “climate of fear” that Gonzales allegedly maintains at the library.
Tomorrow, March 11, marks the third week for any decision yet to be made on what to do with the stalemate.
In a phone interview, JKPL board chair Mark Rabauliman said a decision on Gonzales has yet to be made and that there are matters that need to be discussed first.
Saipan Tribune tried to contact Gonzales but he has yet to respond to queries as of press time.
