Brown appointed labor ombudsman

Senate legal counsel Pamela Brown has been appointed Labor Ombudsman by the Office of Insular Affairs, a position created to oversee labor and immigration problems in the Northern Marianas.

The establishment of the Ombudsman Office in the Commonwealth was provided in the FY 1999 US budget in an obvious attempt to increase federal role in addressing issues related to non-resident workers in the islands, as well as to pressure local government to continue with its reforms of labor and immigration policies.

It is not clear yet if Brown could investigate labor complaints, but OIA Director Allen P. Stayman explained that the ombudsman could assist US lawyers in preparing cases.

Several Commonwealth officials have expressed concerns over the creation of a federal-sponsored labor watchdog in fear that it might interfere with local efforts in addressing labor and immigration systems.

According to Stayman, Brown will also be tasked to gather information regarding the nature of labor cases filed in CNMI and the appropriate actions taken by both Commonwealth and federal officials, as well as steer complaints to proper government agencies.

OIA’s announcement, however, came as a surprise to island officials who claimed that they were not officially notified by the federal government about Brown’s appointment.

Administration sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said CNMI was previously assured that it would be consulted in the selection of the ombudsman.

“The Ombudsman’s position is not a political one, and was filled after the completion of an open, competitive civil service process monitored by the Office of Personnel Management, an independent arm of the US Government,” an OIA press release said.

Brown has practiced law in Saipan for the last 10 years, first working as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division in 1989 and chief Senate legal counsel between 1990 and 1994.

She started practicing law in private in 1994, handling civil rights, labor, immigration, family and corporate cases. She later returned to the Senate to work as legal counsel.

Brown holds a dual bachelor’s degree in anthropology and broadcast journalism and a law degree from the University of Washington’s School of Law in Seattle.