Little League officials under fire for incompetence

Parents of Little League players have accused its officials of incompetence and misspending of public funds, saying they are using their children for their own satisfaction and benefit.

They called for an investigation into the recent actions of these officials and appealed to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to intervene in order to save the sports program.

“We the parents are asking for you and/or an official from your office to conduct an emergency evaluation of these officials on their performance as to how they are dealing with this program,” the parents said in a letter to the governor.

“Our greatest concern is their behavior on using this program as their gateway of getting recognize [without] any concern for the children’s benefit at all,” they added.

The three-page letter, dated March 27, was sent to eight other officials, including acting Attorney General Herb D. Soll and Public Auditor Leo L. LaMotte.

This is the latest on the controversy that has continued to hound Little League following similar allegations leveled by the players’ parents in August last year involving conduct by some CNMI officials during two tournaments held on Rota and Palau.

This time, however, they want Mr. Tenorio to mediate a meeting between them and the Little League officials where they can discuss the problems facing the program.

Noting that the government appropriates at least $75,000 a year for the program, apart from several thousands more in funds from private donations, they claimed the officials never present financial statement to account for these monies.

“The question is what are these funds being spent for,” they asked. “Obviously, it is not being spent on the children or the program.”

They also alleged that while the government provides per diem allowance to players, managers and coaches for games outside the CNMI, the officials have never given them a single penny.

“We think it is time to straighten out these problems, because for us [parents], we don’t care anymore as long as these people stop using our children as their ticket for their own satisfaction and benefit,” they said.

The group also leveled charges of lack of concern on the welfare of the young players, leaving them behind to fend for themselves during off-island games; consumption of alcohol by some officials while in their presence; as well as using funds from other Little League accounts just to bring in their families to overseas trips.

Should the government fail to resolve the dispute, the parents urged Mr. Tenorio to bring the matter to William Sports in Pennsylvania in order to stop the abuse against the children which occurs almost every games season.

“The players are ambassadors of CNMI government to these tournaments and they should be treated with great respect. The official… is just a waste of government funds where they just use the money for their own expenses,” they stated in the letter.

Renewing the charges they fired off against the Little League officials last year, they pointed out that they are awaiting a report from the AGO and the OPA on their investigation into the monies representing per diem allowance owed to the local team who competed in the 1999 games.

“Please pursue our cause for justice for our kids,” they told the governor who could not be reached for comment as he is currently in American Samoa for an official visit.