Crisostimo, Maratita had most absences in last quarter of 2011

Sen. Luis Crisostimo (Ind-Saipan) and Rep. Janet Maratita (Ind-Saipan) have the worst attendance among 29 members of the Senate and House, respectively, in October to December 2011 based on a review of the Legislature’s attendance records.

Crisostimo’s absence from all seven Senate sessions during the last quarter was a result of his ongoing chemotherapy in California. The senator has throat cancer, and his colleagues ask the public to include Crisostimo’s speedy recovery in their prayers.

Maratita, who missed three of six House sessions, said yesterday she had to go off island to attend to her son who was injured during military training.

“If it were not for an emergency in the family, I would have attended all the sessions. My previous records would show that I had been attending sessions,” said Maratita, who was sworn in in July to fill the vacancy left when former representative Diego Benavente resigned.

In the Senate, Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan) was the only other senator to miss two of seven sessions.

Torres said yesterday he was “off island because of a family medical issue,” that’s why he missed the Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 sessions.

Seven of nine senators had perfect attendance during the quarter.

In the House, seven of 20 members had at least one absence led by Maratita with three.

Reps. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan) and Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) had two absences each.

House Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan), House minority leader Joseph Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan), Rep. Ray Palacios (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan) and Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota) each had one absence.

Ogumoro and Deleon Guerrero were in Kosrae to attend the Federated States of Micronesia for the 52nd Association of Pacific Island Legislatures’ board of directors meeting in November.

Ogumoro said while she always makes it a point to attend all House sessions and meetings, she also had to attend the APIL meeting. Saipan will host the next APIL general assembly in June this year.

Santos, for her part, said she was not feeling well that’s why she missed one session.

Some of those with absences said while they missed one or a few sessions, this does not mean they are less effective in lawmaking. Some criticized others with perfect attendance, some of whom they said would only show up for “attendance” purposes and then leave the gallery shortly and fail to vote on legislation.