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OGA request reveals clean government
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Posted on May 09 2008
An Open Government Act request made by Taotao Tano president Gregorio Cruz Jr. has shown that there was no impropriety regarding the compensation of Antonio S. Muna as a special financial consultant to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
Cruz, a controversial activist, recently invoked the CNMI Open Government Act to inquire into the compensation of Muna, the Governor’s former Special Assistant for the Office of Management and Budget, and found nothing to incriminate the Fitial administration in this connection.
According to Finance Secretary Eloy Inos, Muna, who is now CUC’s executive director, received no compensation for his work as a financial consultant to the governor after he left OMB.
“For painstakingly preparing the governor’s submitted FY 09 Budget Proposal, Tony Muna received zero compensation,” said Inos.
Muna resigned as the Governor’s Special Assistant for OMB in December 2007, yet continued to provide financial advice and consultation to Fitial until his recent appointment to CUC as executive director.
In his May 8 reply letter to Cruz, Inos said, “Please be advised that a consulting contract was not consummated between the CNMI and Mr. Muna for any professional services rendered…since [his] date of resignation as [Special Assistant for OMB]. Furthermore, please be advised that Mr. Muna has not been compensated for any services provided to the CNMI during the same period.”
“Mr. Cruz is looking for dirt in all the wrong places,” said press secretary Charles Reyes.
Reyes said that Cruz has been deliberately targeting the administration for criticism after his unsuccessful bid to secure employment with the cash-strapped central government.
“Since he could not find a job with our administration, Mr. Cruz has apparently taken on a full time job as our primary critic,” said Reyes. “I wish him the best of luck in his fishing expeditions, but I doubt he will ever catch any fish or hit pay dirt.” (PR)
