MPLA squabble imperils MVA grant funds

The failure of the Marianas Public Lands Authority board of directors to meet may jeopardize not only MPLA’s operation, but that of at least one other government agency as well.

The Marianas Visitors Authority has a pending request for the MPLA board to approve the renewal of a memorandum of understanding giving MVA authority over tourist sites.

In a Sept. 23 memorandum, MPLA deputy commissioner for Tinian Deborah Fleming said there is an urgency to extend MVA’s authority over the tourist sites since only four months remain on the existing agreement.

The memorandum of understanding will expire on Jan. 1, 2005.

“[Delay in the renewal of the MOU] may adversely affect MVA’s ability to receive national emergency grant funds to repair the tourist facilities that were destroyed by Typhoon Chaba. Federal grants require its applicants to prove authority over its claims, which authority must be of five years or more,” Fleming told the MPLA board.

MVA submitted its request as early as Sept. 15. The matter was included on the agenda for the MPLA board’s scheduled meeting last week.

The meeting, however, was postponed twice due to an apparent squabble among MPLA board members. Whether or not the meeting will be rescheduled for this week remains in the balance. A faction of board members have called for a Friday special meeting, but the agenda included only the employment status of former commissioner Henry Hofschneider and MPLA regulations concerning the MPLA chair’s authority to hire and fire employees.

Signed on April 12, 2001, the memorandum of understanding designated certain public land parcels as tourist sites and granted MVA authority and responsibility to maintain such tourist sites.

The MOU is not automatically renewable, Fleming said in her memo.

She noted that MVA was remiss in making timely reports to MPLA of dues received from memorial groups for the maintenance of certain tourist sites. However, she added, MVA has acknowledged that it would maintain current reporting schedules.

“MVA’s improvements and maintenance performance at the public land properties/tourist sites are commendable. All of the tourist sites in the southern part of the island of Tinian were damaged by the storm. We recommend the board’s approval of MVA’s request so that it may continue with its good work,” Fleming said.

In a Sept. 15 letter, MVA managing director Vicky I. Benavente asked MPLA chair Ana Demapan-Castro to renew the MOU with only one amendment.

Benavente wanted the exclusion of Saipan tourist sites in the agreement, as the responsibility for maintaining such sites has been transferred to the Department of Lands and Natural Resources pursuant to Executive Order 03-02.

MVA, however, continues to maintain tourist sites on Tinian and Rota.