Prison appropriation bill becomes law

Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday signed into law a bill that appropriates some $3.9 million substantially to ensure the completion of the Saipan prison project this year.

Telesource CNMI Inc., the contractor responsible for the new prison facility’s construction, said the project is nearing completion, adding that the Department of Public Works has been paying it on time in the past several months. Telesource president and chief executive officer K.J. Semikian said the project could be fully completed by Dec. 15.

House Bill 14-131, which appropriates $3.9 million in CIP bond interest proceeds for the prison facility’s completion and other projects, is now Public Law 14-19.

The measure sailed through a meticulous process of redrafting at the lower house and the Senate. The bulk of the appropriation—some $2.5 million—goes to the prison project.

“The completion of the Commonwealth prison project will provide a suitable and secure facility for the inmates and will help improve public security,” Babauta said.

The governor said the project’s completion would ensure full compliance with the consent decree forged between the CNMI government and the U.S. Department of Justice three years ago. The consent decree mandated the construction of the new prison, following findings of deplorable conditions at the present jail.

Senate President Joaquin Adriano, who witnessed the signing of the bill into law, said the Legislature has determined the appropriation as sufficient to ensure the prison project’s completion.

Telesource’s Semikian, meanwhile, said that construction work was more than 95 percent funded by previous appropriation, even before the passage of P.L.14-19. “The money we need to finish construction is already appropriated,” he said.

Semikian said the project costs approximately $18 million, inclusive of change orders that slightly pushed up the original estimated cost of over $17.29 million.

“DPW is paying us on time,” he added.

Started in 2002, the construction lagged due to the government’s inability to pay its obligations on time.

The prison project is being erected on a 100,000-square-foot Susupe lot adjacent to the existing Division of Corrections facility. The facility will house 344 prison cells, which is expected to ease congestion at the DOC.

According to Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman, there were cases of convicted felons who were denied entry into the DOC to serve their jail terms due to overcrowding.

DIALYSIS CENTERS

P.L.14-19 also appropriates some $500,000 each for the hemodialysis centers on Tinian and Rota.

Sen. Diego Songao said yesterday that the monies are in addition to the $1 million appropriated for each hemodialysis facility on the two islands. Songao, who witnessed the bill’s signing with Sen. Henry San Nicolas and Adriano, said the projects have been delayed for several years now.

“The additional funds appropriated for the completion of hemodialysis treatment facilities on Tinian and Rota will greatly reduce the inconvenience and hardship for dialysis patients and their families from these senatorial districts that have to travel to Saipan for treatment,” Babauta said.

Although the cost of dialysis treatment on the three islands would be at comparable levels, the governor said the completion of hemodialysis centers on Rota and Tinian would not only provide convenience to these islands’ patients but also slightly reduce the cost spent by the government to house the patients and their families during their stay on Saipan.

ROAD PROJECTS

The new law also appropriates $200,000 each for Tinian and Rota’s road projects to ensure the completion of the projects on the two islands.

“The completion of the Tinian and Rota road projects will greatly enhance the lifestyles of our people and facilitates business developments on these senatorial districts,” the governor said.