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Fitial nixes proposal for DPL deputy secretary
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Posted on Aug 19 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has rejected a bill that proposes to establish a deputy secretary for the Department of Public Lands on Rota, Tinian, and Aguiguan.
Fitial informed Senate President Pete P. Reyes and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios that he has disapproved Senate Bill 16-16.
The governor said he believes the intent of the bill may already be addressed in Public Law 16-8.
“I believe that certain provisions of the bill may conflict with our Constitution and the efficient administration of public lands under the Executive Branch,” the governor said.
According to the legislation, a provision of the NMI Constitution mandates Executive Branch department public services be provided by a resident department head on Tinian and Rota.
The Legislature noted that the declared public policy for the introduction, passage and subsequent enactment of the Public Lands Act of 2006 was to ensure adherence to the mandate of the CNMI Constitution concerning the administration of public lands.
“Notwithstanding the intent, the Public Lands Act of 2006 failed to provide for resident department heads,” the bill states.
