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Unanswered questions
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Posted on Apr 11 2005
The new MPLA public relations officer recently wrote a letter to the editor defending Ana Castro’s leadership of the Marianas Public Lands Authority board of directors. In that letter, he claimed that Mrs. Castro had called seven board meetings between October and Dec. 3. He did not mention that another four meetings have been held since then.
He also stated that the public was given the opportunity to make public comments at board meetings. That is not entirely true. The public is only allowed to comment during regular board meetings.
Would the new MPLA public information officer please inform the public as to:
1) How many of those 11 meetings were regular board meetings? Two?
2) How many were special meetings? Nine?
3) How many of the special meetings were held in Rota or Tinian, away from the general public and the media on Saipan?
4) Why is it so important to have so many special meetings on Rota?
5) How much does it cost to have a board meeting on Rota, including travel for board members and staff, car rentals, per diem, meals, etc?
6) How much would have been saved for other uses if those meetings would have been held on Saipan, where the public could at least view the proceedings, even if they weren’t allowed to speak? And,
7) Would the new public relations officer please inform the public if and when another real regular board meeting will be held?
No doubt there are many individuals and companies, other than Azmar, that would like to have the opportunity to make a comment at that meeting. It would be nice if the regular meetings were held regularly, and on time, so that the public could be prepared and better served.
Don A. Farrell
Director of Public Information
Azmar International Trading Co. CNMI. Inc.
