At least 6 lawmakers in Taiwan

At least six lawmakers are currently in Taiwan for a trip paid for by a Taiwanese investor, while Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is on his way to Los Angeles, California where he would join U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Chinese Vice President Xi JinPing, and California Gov. Edmund G. Brown in a roundtable discussion before heading for Washington, D.C. for the National Governors Association Winter Meeting.

China’s Xi, who is on a five-day visit to the United States, is expected to become the next president of China and the next Communist Party leader.

Fitial left on Valentine’s Day along with press secretary Angel Demapan.

Meanwhile, the three CNMI senators led by Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) left days ago for Manila, before heading for Taiwan where they would meet up with three House members led by Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) who left yesterday.

The six lawmakers who left for Taiwan are Manglona, Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), Cabrera, Rep. Ralph Demapan (Cov-Saipan) and Rep. Joe Palacios (R-Saipan), according to other lawmakers and at least one memo.

One of the House members also invited to the all-expense paid trip as early as last year, Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), said yesterday he declined the invitation, and said his focus is on doing things here on Saipan.

Other lawmakers said yesterday they are disappointed that their colleagues kept their Taiwan trip a secret.

Only at least the House speaker issued an off-island notice.

Cabrera’s memo indicated that he will be off island on official business from Feb. 15 to 19. He designated Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan) as acting speaker while he’s off island. But the speaker did not mention where he’s going and the purpose of his trip.

Another lawmaker said the Office of the Public Auditor should “step in and investigate the matter,” considering that a foreign investor paid for the trip, hotel accommodation, and other expenses of CNMI lawmakers to go to Taiwan.

“This is not right. Their trip raises ethical questions, conflict of interest. No foreign corporation should pay for CNMI government officials’ trips and no government official should accept those offers of free trips. When time comes and these lawmakers have to make decisions concerning these investors, they would be in conflict of interest,” said one of the lawmakers not among those who left for Taiwan.

Fitial and other officials’ US trips

Fitial left for Los Angeles, Calif., at the invitation of Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Feb. 3 to a Feb. 17 roundtable discussion.

Brown said the roundtable discussion will be with the vice presidents of the U.S. and China, along with provincial leaders visiting from China.

“This will be an excellent opportunity to deepen bilateral economic, cultural and educational ties-at the state level-with the People’s Republic of China,” Brown told Fitial in a one-page letter.

From Los Angeles, Fitial and Demapan will head for Washington, D.C. for the Feb. 25 to 27 National Governors Association Winter Meeting.

Attorney General Ed Buckingham is also expected to joint the governor at the NGA meeting.

After the NGA meeting, Fitial will be attending the Federal Regional Council in San Francisco.

CNMI Military Integration Management Committee coordinator Tom Linden and special assistant for administration Esther Fleming will also be attending the FRC meeting. Linden confirmed yesterday he will leave on Feb. 28 to attend preliminary meetings.

Acting press secretary Teresa Kim said yesterday that Fitial is expected to be back on March 5.