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Saipan mayor to settle Lib Day debts
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Posted on May 18 2000
The Saipan Mayor’s Office will be able to settle within the week its over $40,000 debt incurred from the 1999 Liberation Day Celebration with the reprogramming of funds originally set aside for operations.
According to Mayor Jose C. Sablan, the money will come from the nearly half-a-million dollars appropriated for the Saipan Mayor’s Office to help improve the delivery of services to the community from the poker license fees collection.
He said the $5,000 debt his office owes to Joeten Motor Co. Inc. for the Sentra car given away as grand prize during the previous year’s Liberation Day Celebration will be paid immediately as soon as the governor signs the reprogramming of funds.
The appropriation signed by acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan last month will also be used to purchase spare parts for heavy equipment and equipment used in clearing roads as well as improve water delivery service which has suffered delays due to low water pressure.
Joeten Motor has filed a civil suit against the Mayor’s Office and the 1999 Liberation Day Committee demanding payment for the car. But the demand letter was simply ignored.
Joeten is now seeking $5,000 in damages, $750 maximum statutory penalty pursuant to the Bad Check Act, and $250 in attorney’s fees.
The 1999 Liberation Day Committee was able to raise $100,000 plus fees from concessionaires and money collected from candidates, according to Mayor Sablan. He expressed hopes that the 2000 Liberation Day Committee Celebration will be able to raise funds this year to be able to carry out smoothly the annual activities.
