Gov’t: $10K to fight crimes ‘not bad’

Despite existing austerity measures instituted due to depleted coffers, the Commonwealth government sole-sourced the hiring of former FBI officer Phil Goodwin as consultant to the anti-crime task force.

In justifying the need for Mr. Goodwin’s services, the administration pointed out the urgency of eliminating prostitution and other illegal activities on the island, especially Saipan’s prime tourist area.

“Mr. Goodwin’s services cannot be acquired from another source either within or outside of the CNMI and the cost to procure these services from alternative source not familiar with the issues would be much higher,” lawyer Juliana C. Sandvold told Special Assistant for Administration Jose I. Deleon Guerrero in a letter.

She noted the importance of joining forces through the creation of a special task force specifically tasked to address issues related to prevent proliferation of criminal activities on the island, especially crimes against tourists.

“This must be done expeditiously and efficiently to curtail the continued growth of these activities,” said Ms. Sandvold in her letter.

According to Ms. Sandvold, the former FBI official is familiar with the CNMI and the agencies involved in the project; has vast experience in crime prevention issues, and has worked with both local and federal agencies on these matters in the past.

This paved the road for the expedited hiring of Mr. Goodwin’s services. He arrived on Saipan last April 15 and immediately started discussions with members of the Prostitution/Robbery and Tourist Crime Prevention Task Force.

Documents obtained disclosed Mr. Goodwin’s contract was sent back to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s office April 9 after Procurement and Supply Director Herman S. Sablan approved the purchasing expenditure contract last April 4.

Mr. Tenorio signed the hiring document, labeled “expedited procurement” on April 3. He stressed that the contract is for public purpose, and does not waste or abuse public funds.

Signatories of the hiring papers include Mr. Sablan, Finance Secretary Lucy DLG. Nielsen, and Attorney General Herbert D. Soll.

All officials certified that there are sufficient funds available to hire Mr. Goodwin and that the contract was reviewed and approved as to form and legal capacity.

Mr. Goodwin’s contract was released on April 9, a week before the anti-prostitution task force informed the 15-man team of the recommendations to hire an expert on crime prevention.

Under the Independent Contractor Agreement entered by the CNMI with the former official of the Investigation Unit of the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Goodwin’s consulting services took effect April 15 and will continue until June 15, 2001.

For the two-month consultation services, he will receive $9,933.33 and will serve as consultant to the governor on law enforcement matters.

The government agreed to pay half of the amount on May 15 and the balance on June 15, upon expiration of the consulting services provided under the contract.

The government also agreed to provide Mr. Goodwin with the use of a vehicle during the duration of his contract while in the CNMI and travel to and from his point of origin — Providence, Rhode Island.

The scope of work for the Tourist Related Crime Prevention Task Force will include the review and formulation of proposals regarding operations at the Department of Public Safety and organizing and heading a multi-agency task force designated to eradicate tourist related crimes.

Mr. Goodwin will work closely with DPS, the Department of Labor and Immigration, AGO and other CNMI agencies involved in the task force to effectively eliminate criminal activities in Garapan.

Based on Governor’s Directive 195, as extended by Directive 199 and Directive 207, the Commonwealth is currently faced with an economic situation demanding that immediate improvements be made in the area of tourism in order to enable the CNMI to continue to maintain and attract additional tourists to its shores.