Previous Story
MPLA denies paying members for Rota, Tinian trips
|
Posted on Feb 19 2006
The Marianas Public Lands Authority has denied paying its board members for their trips to Rota and Tinian last week.
Board chair Ana Demapan-Castro, members Nick Nekai and Felix Sasamoto flew to Rota Sunday, Feb. 12, “to prepare for the next day’s meeting” scheduled at 8am, said MPLA media officer Ed Arriola.
The meeting, however, was cancelled as Castro “had to tend to an urgent family medical emergency,” he said.
“According to the Board Secretary, the members did not receive their per diem checks as the meeting was never held,” said Arriola.
Demapan-Castro reportedly left for Hawaii for a family emergency.
Her Feb. 12 trip to Rota took place even though she learned of her off-island trip as of Feb. 10.
In a memorandum dated Feb. 10, Demapan-Castro assigned Nekai as acting board chairman, receiving “restricted” authority.
In her memo, she specifically prohibited the acting chairman from processing personnel actions, contracts, and procurement matters.
Demapan-Castro has been accused of nepotism for hiring her immediate relatives and granting juicy contracts to certain individuals.
Meantime, the board then set the board meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11am at Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.
This, too, was cancelled but both Nekai and Sasamoto and other staff, including MPLA commissioner Ed Deleon Guerrero, went to Tinian to attend a public hearing on proposed MPLA abolition set later that day at Tinian Court House.
Arriola said Nekai, Sasamoto, and Deleon Guerrero left for Tinian in the afternoon for the public hearing.
“No person received any per diem, according to my inquiries,” said Arriola.
MPLA’s public notices said that the board would discuss “land compensation matters, Tinian homestead, and Tinian leaseback.”
Others topics include separate land claim issues with Marianas Public Lands Trust board chairman Juan S. Torres and Saipan Short Conveyance.
Meantime, Demapan-Castro said she will be back on island on March 1.
