By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho on Tuesday said his office will continue normal operations on Dec. 24 despite an administrative leave directive issued by the Apatang-Mendiola administration granting government employees leave from Dec. 24 to 26.
Camacho said his staff agreed to work on Christmas Eve to avoid any disruption to community programs and essential services provided by the Saipan Mayor’s Office. Staff will observe Christmas Day on Dec. 25 and take their administrative leave on Dec. 26.
“I let the employees decide whether to take their administrative leave on the 24th or the 26th so there’s no disruption to community services,” Camacho said. “Yesterday, Monday, the majority of them wanted to work on the 24th and take their administrative leave on the 26th.”
Camacho also noted that the CNMI government remains under austerity measures and questioned the cost-saving impact of the administration’s memo.
“I don’t see any savings in the administration’s administrative memo,” he said.
Gov. David Apatang on Monday authorized administrative leave for non-essential Executive Branch employees on Dec. 24 and 26 “in recognition of their hard work and sacrifice.”
Camacho said the mayor’s office will continue to prioritize uninterrupted public services throughout the holiday period.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
