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Fitial’s Taiwan trip postponed
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Posted on Apr 12 2006
The governor’s trip to Taiwan was postponed due to an illness in his family.
House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, who had been scheduled to leave for Taiwan yesterday with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Senate President Joseph Mendiola, said the governor advised him of the trip’s cancellation on Tuesday night.
According to Babauta, one of the governor’s nephews was seriously ill and had to be taken to the hospital’s intensive care unit.
“He [governor] had to attend to that. He had been in the hospital since last night and he is probably still there,” Babauta said late Wednesday afternoon. “We will make new arrangements for this trip, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future.”
Fitial scheduled the trip to Taipei upon the invitation of the Taiwan government.
However, diplomatic sensitivities have prompted him to pass up the Taiwan government’s initial offer to pay for his trip. Fitial has decided to use personal funds for his travel expenses, as well as those of his two companions.
The governor has also made changes to his original itinerary. He will meet with private business officials only, and not with any Taiwan government officials.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes said the main objectives of the governor’s trip were to secure investments for the Commonwealth and to revive nonstop flight service between Taiwan and the CNMI.
