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LB urged to adopt some HI practices
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Posted on Nov 20 2006
Public Auditor Michael S. Sablan expressed hope yesterday that the Legislative Bureau would consider adopting practices it learned last week from its Hawaii counterpart.
The Office of the Public Auditor arranged the meetings, in a bid to get the CNMI Legislature acquainted with administrative processes at the Hawaii House of Representatives.
Sablan said that Hawaii usually offers the CNMI a good model to follow because it has similar customs and traditions and has a multi-island government.
In this case, he said, the bureau can learn from the Hawaii Legislature’s approach to employment, procurement, property control, and travel.
“What we learned, I hope, will open some eyes. Some don’t make practical sense here, but a lot of the things discussed can benefit our Legislative Bureau. It is now up to the presiding officers to decide whether to incorporate Hawaii’s policy into our Senate and House rules. This can be part of our maturing as a government,” Sablan said.
The Legislative Bureau employees who traveled to Hawaii for the meetings are director Joaquin Omar, deputy director Glenna SP Palacios, and attorneys Joe Bermudes and Eric Lister.
Senate Vice President Pete Reyes, Sen. Maria Pangelinan, Vice Speaker Justo Quitugua, and Reps. Absalon Waki and Manuel Tenorio, who attended the investment conference sponsored by the U.S. Interior Department, also joined the bureau.
OPA recently conducted a comprehensive review of the LB’s operations and called on the bureau to improve the efficiency and accountability of administrative processes related to personnel management, procurement, property control and travel. (Agnes E. Donato)
