Previous Story
Appointees told to undergo drug test
|
Posted on Jan 16 2006
Cabinet officials within the new Fitial administration may keep or lose their appointments depending on the result of drug tests.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in a Cabinet meeting yesterday reminded his key appointees to undergo drug testing. The $35.50 testing fee will be borne by each Cabinet member.
“It’s a new administration and the governor wants to start fresh. He wants all his Cabinet members to be drug-tested. We want to show that everybody is responsible, that we don’t have anybody using illegal narcotics on our staff,” said press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.
“The Cabinet officials have signed consent forms. They agreed to subject their employment to the results of the tests,” he added.
The CNMI Personnel Service System Rules and Regulations require all new government employees to undergo drug testing. Existing employees are also subject to random, post-accident, or reasonable suspicion testing.
According to Reyes, the governor himself has already signed one of the consent forms circulated by the Office of Personnel Management at yesterday’s meeting.
“Governor Fitial has taken the lead. He is also going to be subject to the test,” Reyes said.
On Friday, acting Personnel Director Mathilda Rosario issued a memorandum reminding all department and activity heads of the pre-employment drug test requirement.
All new employees, whether civil service or contract, must full comply with drug test procedure.
“A negative test result must be received before they can be allowed physically on the job. I must emphasize that employees cannot be put to work until the test results are received,” Rosario said.
The requirement also applies to all gubernatorial appointees, she added. But the new administration’s start-up staff will be authorized to work pending the release of the test results.
Off-island hires are also required to go through the procedure.
Frances T. Salas, coordinator of the OPM Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace program, said all new appointees and employees have agreed to undergo drug testing.
“It’s very encouraging. It gives us reassurance that our program is important,” Salas said.
