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AS INOS TAKE 3-WEEK LEAVE
Torres asks departments to fast-track pending projects
Torres
In a meeting yesterday morning, acting governor Ralph DLG. Torres has asked department heads to “fast-track” pending projects as Gov. Eloy S. Inos takes a three-week vacation in Seattle.
Torres will be the acting governor in Inos’ absence, Press Secretary Ivan Blanco said.
Blanco said the acting governor wants to move government projects including a permitting application for the Alter City Group, which is building a hotel resort on Tinian, the port repairs at Rota and Tinian, and solid waste management programs all across the CNMI.
Blanco said the purpose of the Cabinet meeting is also urge the departments to “work together” to fast-track the projects.
Another point of discussion, Blanco said, is the inputs of each of the department in the ongoing review of a draft environmental impact statement by Dentons US LLC, a third-party consultant hired by the government to conduct the review.
Dentons earlier said it will solicit all the departments’ inputs, prior to setting up a series of public hearings on the joint training draft EIS.
The schedule for the hearings will be on July 15, 16, and 17, on Saipan and Tinian.
Blanco said the team from Dentons is set to return to the CNMI before the scheduled public hearings.
Blanco added that Inos is expecting to see some progress once he gets back from his vacation.
Inos took a vacation after handing down a decision to grant a commutation of the prison sentence of former governor Benigno R. Fitial who was convicted of misconduct in public office and conspiracy to commit theft of service and sentenced to one year in prison.
But with the commutation, Fitial is not expected to spend time in jail.
