Senate confirms Villagomez to CPA board

The Senate voted unanimously yesterday to confirm former Tinian Sen. Manuel Villagomez as an appointee to the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s board of directors.

Manuel Villagomez joins former CPA chairman Joe Lifoifoi, who has been asked to rescind his May 16 resignation from the CPA board.

Manuel Villagomez served four terms as Tinian senator, from 1981 to 1989. He was a board member of the Marianas Public Lands Authority when Gov. Benigno R. Fitial abolished the agency in 2006 due to reported abuses.

Another appointee, former Sen. Thomas Villagomez, is awaiting confirmation. Sen. Paul A. Manglona said the Senate could not act on Thomas Villagomez’ nomination because of incomplete documents.

Under its bylaws, CPA requires at least four board members to constitute a quorum and to conduct business. The lack of a functioning board is the main reason Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has extended the CPA emergency declaration for another 30 days. The state of emergency was declared originally to stave off a technical default on CPA’s airport revenue bond indenture.

Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said yesterday that four more names will be submitted to the Senate on Monday. They are former Rep. Absalon Waki Jr., Frank Camacho, Miriam Seman, and Barry Toves.

Along with Manuel Villagomez, Thomas Villagomez, and Lifoifoi, the four new appointees will complete the seven-member board.

“We are heeding the call of the Legislature to submit the nominees. Once the names submitted, the Senate can review and act on them. If we can get that done, we may no longer need to extend the emergency,” said Reyes.

In a recent report to the administration and the Legislature, acting CPA executive director Lee Cabrera expressed belief that “it is more prudent to restore CPA’s board as soon as possible.”

He noted that the governor’s directives had already fully addressed the major concerns that prompted the emergency declaration, which is keeping the ports authority under the governor’s direct control.

“What remains now is the administrative and operational governance of CPA. Given the turnover in key staff and management, it appears appropriate that the CPA board of directors be restored as soon as possible to ensure that the changes which have taken place are carried through to completion,” Cabrera said.