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Torres to name new DFEMS chief soon
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is looking to name a new commissioner that will head the Department of Fire and Emergency Services within the month. Juan Pua is still the acting DFEMS chief.
Former DFEMS chief Clyde Norita was not re-appointed to the post, but Torres has signified that Norita may be named to another government post.
“Now that we’ve addressed withdrawing [Norita], we do have an acting commissioner but I’ve been looking at several [candidates] commissioners. We have several that’s interested,” said Torres.
He said he is also consulting Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios on the matter. “I’m sure we will be talking to several interested parties, entities, individuals. And we’re going to select the best one for DFEMS.”
He, however, did not disclose the names of some of the candidates that they had interviewed or will be talking to, and just said that they will name the new commissioner in just a couple more weeks.
Norita will still work in the administration in a different capacity, according to Torres. He was a former law enforcer where he rose from the ranks becoming a police major and became a member of the 14th CNMI Legislature in the House of Representatives.
He is also a former Criminal Justice Planning Agency executive director, and special assistant with the Department of Public Safety before being assigned to head the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
Norita was appointed by former governor Eloy S. Inos to head the then newly-created DFEMS in 2015.
Torres also withdrew the re-appointment of Department of Corrections commissioner Vincent Attao last month.
