The other side of the coin

During the Brian Redd’s May 21 5pm newscast, David M. Sablan publicly states that there were 10 applicants to the MVA’s Managing Director’s vacancy announcement and eight applicants were interviewed. I know for a fact that only Vicky Benavente and myself applied for the position. In light of his announcement, I am challenging Mr. Sablan to name one other applicant, only one additional applicant, that was interviewed by the same board that interviewed both me and Vicky Benavente and I will reconsider my protest to MVA.

There were other issues that Mr. Sablan raised during the newscast that were misleading, particularly my work experience with MVB, which is now MVA. He should have known from the resumé I submitted along with my employment application that I have over five years work experience at both MVB and MVA. Majority were during the management of Mr. J.M. Guerrero and Ms. Bennett Seman, who were both instrumental in shaping my career under their strict but equitable management.

Given the fact that only two applied for the Managing Director’s position, why is it that Mr. Sablan knows a lot about Mrs. Benavente’s management experience and mum on her educational attainment and knows a lot about my educational achievements, but erred in reporting my work experience. I now wonder if he reviewed both our employment applications and their attachments.

On May 26 issues of the Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune, Mr. Sablan also stated that I had said that I am “uncomfortable talking in public” during the interview process. I never said anything to this effect and I ask Mr. Sablan to roll out the tape, if the interview was recorded, and let us set the record straight. As the community is aware, there are many events that MVA hosts regularly, which require staff to perform as emcees. During the years that I worked for both MVB and MVA, there were numerous occasions I acted as emcee for sporting events, dinner receptions, and travel agent seminars. In addition, I was an instructor for one year at NMC Rota campus, represented my employer during career days, conducted public hearings on new labor rules and regulation while I was Resident Director for Labor & Immigration-Rota, have testified in front of legislative bodies for budget requests and justification or oversight hearings, represented my employer during on and off-island workshops and conferences which, at times, require position papers, presented and defended position papers during my undergraduate and graduate years in college. The list can go on and as one can see, and I believe that with every public speaking engagements I was involved in, I was able to gain more confidence in my public speaking abilities.

Additionally, in both papers, Mr. Sablan states, “the position of the MVA Managing Director does not require a minimum educational background, degree in higher education or specialized work experience.” How does MVA expect to compete globally if we do not hire competent people with the needed qualities and why did they put a minimum requirement in their JVA? Again, I responded to a job vacancy announcement with specific requirements, to which I know I am grossly discriminated.

James A. Santos