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Torres lashes back at FTZ nominee
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Posted on Dec 18 2000
Rep. Stanley T. Torres lashed back at one of the governor’s nominees to the Free Trade Zone Authority board whom he questioned due to concerns raised by an anonymous individual over his appointment.
He said the letter raised a “serious question which should not be ignored” by the Senate in considering businessman George M. Fleming, Jr.’s nomination to the important government body.
Appointments to public boards and commissions are a matter of public trust which demands close scrutiny, the Saipan lawmaker wrote in a letter to Mr. Fleming.
While he leaves it to the Senate to conduct its own investigation and make its own findings, he called the attention of Senate President Paul A. Manglona on the issue to “caution him” on information whether it is relevant or not.
“The worst thing for me to do in this situation was to remain silent and pretend I never received any information,” Mr. Torres said. “How the Senate proceeds on this issue is entirely up to them.”
Mr. Fleming came under scrutiny after the anonymous letter reached the Senate in which he was questioned because of a criminal case filed against him in 1991.
But last week, he refuted the allegations and produced a court record clearing him of any allegations that he was convicted of any criminal offense.
In responding to the claims, he criticized Mr. Torres’ action and said that it was meant to embarrass him publicly because of speculations that he would run for a seat in the House of Representatives. (BS)
