GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Tuesday terminated the employment of Delbert T. Pua, special assistant at the Office of Youth Affairs, effective immediately.
In his letter to Pua on April 1, 2025, the governor cited the statute pertaining to executive appointments: “Unless otherwise provided by law, any person appointed to any board, agency, commission or position by the governor, shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed by the governor with or without cause.”
The governor told Pua that “in the interest of the Commonwealth, I have decided to terminate your time as the Special Assistant of the Office of Youth Affairs.”
Asked for comment, Pua said, “I knew it, and I was not surprised about it. I knew this termination letter was coming my way because of what I believe, and there were several times that I refused to submit a report regarding the highlights and challenges my office faced.”
Pua said he was sworn into office under the Palacios-Apatang administration with “nothing to begin with, and I was caught in the middle of releasing all American Rescue Plan Act personnel, which I felt bad about because I do not believe in punishing the innocent who didn’t know that their fate [was termination].”
He said the governor did not consult Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang about his termination.
“Palacios has forgotten his principles and who he is—after we all worked hard for him to become the CNMI’s governor,” he said.
“I would like to take this time and opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to Lt. Governor Apatang for allowing me to be a part of the cabinet. I thank him for always having the time to hear me out whenever I was in need of advice, and also our late Special Assistant for Administration Oscar M. Babauta. Thank you to my friends and families for their unwavering support during my tenure as the special assistant and to the people of the Commonwealth,” Pua said.
In a telephone interview, the governor said Pua’s termination was due to multiple reasons that had accumulated over the years.
He said that in the two years since Pua was appointed special assistant, there had never been a plan or program for the CNMI youth.
There are four youth centers on Saipan, but the governor said Pua allowed other agencies to oversee three of them, while managing only the youth center in Gualo Rai.
He added that even the facilities of the youth centers had not been properly maintained. The latest concern brought to his attention by a constituent was the youth center in Gualo Rai, which is now surrounded by overgrown vegetation, the governor said.
After two years of Pua’s “lackluster” performance, the governor said he has to find someone who can do a better job.
Resignation
On Wednesday, Pua submitted his resignation from the Youth Advisory Council, which functions as an advisory board to the Criminal Justice Planning Agency and its supervisory council on youth-related matters. Among other things, the Youth Advisory Council reviews all sub-grant proposals for federal juvenile justice and delinquency funds.
In his letter to YAC Chairwoman Leeani Saralu, Pua said, “It is with great honor to serve with you all and [I am] truly appreciative of the opportunities and the experience I have gained during my short term as a member.”
However, he said, he has “decided to embark on a new journey to pursue my future endeavors.”
