Governor submits to Senate requirements for 5 nominees

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial submitted to Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) the required documents to support his nominations of five individuals to serve on the Board of Professional Licensing, the Commonwealth Development Authority board and the Commonwealth Ports Authority board, hoping that the Senate will start the confirmation process.

Fitial’s letters were dated June 18 but they were received at the Senate yesterday.

These governor’s appointments need the advice and consent of the Senate.

Fitial submitted copies of resumes, statements of financial interest, police clearance, drug test receipts, and/or drug test results of three nominees to BPL, including Roman S. Demapan, Herman B. Cabrera, and Roy P. Reyes. The governor nominated them to BPL on April 30, May 1, and May 14, respectively.

BPL only has one member at the moment and needs at least three of five members to have a quorum. Without a quorum, BPL cannot renew or approve applicants’ licenses for architects, engineers, land surveyors, and real estate appraisers, among other things.

Fitial also submitted documents for Concepcion O. Igisomar whom he nominated to the CPA board on May 3, as well as Edward C. Sablan whom he reappointed on April 16.

Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, said that because the documents were received only yesterday, he will give the panel members “ample time” to review the submissions as part of their initial investigations on the nominees’ background and qualification.

The EAGI Committee is the body that investigates and recommends to the full Senate whether to confirm or reject the governor’s nominees.

“The EAGI Committee is aware of the urgency to confirm the nominees, especially to BPL because right now it does not have a quorum. But we also need to do our due diligence in reviewing the nominees’ credentials,” Cruz told Saipan Tribune.

Meanwhile, CDA board chair Pedro Itibus and executive director Manuel A. Sablan wrote to the Senate EAGI chair, expressing support to the reappointment of Edward C. Sablan to the CDA board.

“Mr. Sablan has played a very important role in CDA’s successes for the last three years and his experience in finance and taxation is valuable asset to this organization. He has strong determination to follow the mandate of the law that created CDA. He abides by the right principles and observes CDA rules and regulations at the same time compassionate to the needs of the people that CDA serves,” the CDA officials told Cruz.

Cruz said the Senate EAGI Committee will likely meet next week to discuss the governor’s submission of nominees’ requirements.