A consistent abuse of power

In July, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. held an appreciation party at Paupau Beach. Several employees of CUC told the media that Gov. Juan N. Babauta used the appreciation party as a venue for his political rally. One employee said that CUC’s resources, e.g., paper, computers, and fax machines, were used to facilitate the political rally disguised as a party. In addition, the employee stated that that public auditor should investigate how CUC’s upper management used their resources and influence to get employees to attend this political rally.

Approximately three months later, in October, the Republican Party ran an advertisement that included photographs of Babauta and OPA staff members. According to the media story in the Saipan Tribune, the photographs were taken at the annual government-wide CNMI Labor Day picnic held on Sept. 17, 2005.

Subsequently, Public Auditor Michael Sablan wrote GOP chair Juan S. Reyes a letter stating the picture was misleading because it seemed to suggest that he (Sablan) supported the party when, in fact, the Labor Day event was not sponsored by the Republican Party, nor was presence there any indication of support for the Republican Party or any other political party, candidate, or issue.

In addition, Sablan expressed an intent to file complaint with the Commonwealth Election Commission and the Attorney General’s Office if the GOP ran a similar advertisement and demanded GOP to apologize to him, the OPA staff and the readers of the Saipan Tribune, as well as an immediate retraction stating the photographs were taken at the Labor Day picnic and do not reflect support for the GOP slate.

Within three months the island community has witnessed the misuse of power by the governor using an appreciation party for a political rally; an error labeling Mayor Juan “Sigi” Tudela, a Covenant Party candidate, as a Democrat; and using photographs of the Public Auditor to convey that the OPA is a supporter of the Babauta/Benavente tandem.

The questionable use of political power to try and bolster support from the electorate using appreciation parties, inaccurate candidate designations, and photographs with professionals who are supposed to be “non-political” reveals the true colors of the incumbent governor. With only a week before Election Day, what other abuses can we expect to see from Juan Nekai Babauta?

Dr. Jesus D. Camacho
Delano, California