By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

COMMONWEALTH Ports Authority executive director Clyde K. Norita says all transactions made under his watch were legal and went through the proper channels.
Norita resigned last week over what he calls the CPA board’s micromanagement, and meddling in the day-to-day operations of the agency.
During its special meeting last week, board chairman Rex I. Palacios said that the board had lost confidence in Norita, indicating that there was mismanagement.
Norita’s resignation takes effect on May 4.
Variety was told that despite the administration’s hiring freeze order, four individuals were hired by CPA.
These were James Ayuyu, a former police officer and now a lieutenant with the port police; Gary Cabrera, also an ex-policeman, now a police port sergeant; Joaquin Diaz, CPA’s new grant writer; and Louisa Y. Garron, the agency’s administrative assistant and the daughter of CPA board member Bobbie Yamada.
According to Norita in an e-mail to this reporter, “The hiring of two former (Department of Public Safety) employees was necessary in our re-organization to create an investigative unit within the ports police. The two officers that were hired were responsible for the quick investigation and arrest of two CPA employees who were stealing from CPA. Prior to the re-organization, CPA never had an investigative unit.”
Norita said in the past six months, they have had two copper thefts, and several questionable activities.
“We have reported them to DPS with no result. The need to get seasoned investigators was necessary — we brought this up to the board and it was approved by the board,” he said.
He said the hiring of an administrative assistant at the seaport was the request of board member Yamada.
Norita said CPA has re-announced the four positions.
“This was done at my request, working with our legal counsel and (the Office of the Public Auditor) and approved by the board at the February meeting,” Norita added.
During last week’s meeting, Yamada questioned the 31 cellular phones that CPA issued to its management and staff. Yamada said only seven phones should be issued to CPA personnel.
“Our contract for cell phone service was based on 10,000 minutes, free nights and weekend, free texting per month at the rate of $1, 300 a month,” Norita said. “This is a far lower price of $3,000 to $4,000 a month than when we had accounts with both PTI and SaipanCell. Now we have a contract with just one cellular company. So CPA is paying for minutes per month and not by how many cell phones at a lower price.”
He also defended contracts awarded by CPA
“The board approved the contract for lawn care services for RMI, which was done through proper bidding and public announcement through local newspapers,” he said. “The (contract) was given to the lowest bidder who met the minimum qualifications for insurance, bonding, equipment and manpower. I ask you this, if the bidding was done improperly, why did the board approve it? They approved it because it was done properly. A couple of board members asked me about other bidders who submitted proposals too. I reported that those bidders were higher than the rest.”
He said there were over 15 bidders and the project was not sole-sourced.