House panel probes COVID-19 overtime, contracts

Rep. Ralph Yumul (R-Saipan) shows copies of the letters of request sent to Patrick Guerrero, the Governor’s Authorized Representative, in relation to the inquiry being initiated by the House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding regarding awarded contracts, newly-hired employees, and government hazardous and overtime payments related to the COVID-19 emergency and response operations. (IVA MAURIN)

Responding to information sent from within the Torres administration, the Legislature has initiated an inquiry into awarded contracts, newly-hired employees, and government hazardous and overtime payments related to the CNMI government’s COVID-19 emergency and response.

The House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster Related Funding has asked Patrick Guerrero, the Governor’s Authorized Representative, to furnish them with documents that include a complete list of all CNMI government employees receiving overtime payment related to COVID-19 operations.

The committee also requested documents related to COVID-19 emergency contracts awarded to the Asia Pacific Hotels, which operates the Kanoa Resort; Pacific Oriental Inc.; Interpacific Resort Corp.; Medpharm Group of Companies; Five Star Builders; Island Image & Motion; Helios Energy Group; and Surf Rider Resort Hotel.

Rep. Ralph Yumul (R-Saipan), who chairs the committee, said in an interview that “there is progress” in their request, and that Guerrero has informed his office that the documents should be in by the end of the week. “The first step with the committee is to gather the information that other representatives have issues with, and then we’ll go over it. If there are some discrepancies that need to be brought up, we call in the agencies involved, and have them put on record to explain to the people of the CNMI as to why this is going on,” he added.

Yumul also noted that they have learned from the “mistakes” from Super Typhoon Yutu and that they do not want such mistakes to happen again. “The legislative body has given so much resources to the administration, from borrowing funds and using some of the Casino License Fee. We’ve given everything, and now we’re basically asking what have they done with it, and we’re making sure they’re following the mandate of the people, that they’re not going beyond and spending what there needs to be spent on,” he added.

Yumul also disclosed that they are conducting this inquiry due to information sent to their committee from staff within the administration. “The staff within the administration is sending information to us as to why is this going on. It’s not the Legislature looking around, it’s actually complaints that were sent to us.”

“We don’t actually look for it,” Yumul added. “But you’d be amazed at what information comes here and it’s within our own government body. We take it upon ourselves to really look into it. That’s our job, we owe it to the people.”