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NMSA financial report under review
The track and field facility at the Oleai Sports Complex is under the care of the Northern Marianas Sports Association. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The Northern Marianas Sports Association has finally submitted a financial report dating back from fiscal year 2014 to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
According to Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), NMSA turned in the financial report from 2014 to 2018 last week and SNILD is having its fiscal analyst review the documents. The island’s lawmakers required NMSA to submit a financial report before they could identify a new funding source for the group.
It has been over two months since the government, citing belt-tightening measures, zeroed out funding for NMSA, leaving the association short on manpower, as it does not have enough money for payroll. Only three out of the five people employed by NMSA are reporting for work to take care of the Oleai Sports Complex. The facility remains open despite NMSA’s financial challenges, as various leagues and groups have earlier booked the complex for their events.
“As soon as we get feedback from our fiscal analyst, I plan to file the financial report so that it becomes public document,” Sablan said.
NMSA, since 2014, has been relying on the coffers of the government for payroll of its personnel, as earnings from its lottery program are appropriated for the maintenance of the Oleai Sports Complex and participation of CNMI athletes and officials in off-island tournaments.
Last summer, NMSA provided $750 for the airfare of each CNMI delegate to the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa plus the per diem ($35 each day). Team Marianas competed in athletics, beach volleyball, swimming, tennis, badminton, canoe, and golf.
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