Dr. John Angello appears before the House Committees on Judicial & Governmental Operations, and Public Utilities, Transportation & Communications in the House chamber on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
DOCTOR John “Jack” A. Angello, who has been reappointed to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, talked about the economic crisis that the CNMI is facing when he appeared before the House Committees on Judicial & Governmental Operations, and Public Utilities, Transportation & Communications last week.
Angello noted the recent statement of Saipan Chamber of Commerce Vice President Joshua Wise about the collapsing local economy.
To deal with the economic crisis, Angello said, “I think we just need to tweak the system.” And by that, he meant making tough decisions to improve the situation. He did not elaborate.
Noting that he has been living in the CNMI for 46 years now, Angello told House members, “Sometimes I get criticized for tweaking the system, but somebody has to do the tweaking.”
He said he admires and congratulates lawmakers “for stepping up because you are criticized, too, for your decisions. But we have to make these decisions.”
As for the CPUC, a regulatory agency, he said lawmakers have to make decisions to ensure that it becomes a functioning body.
“I hope that you understand that I’m not trying to establish myself as a person of power. I just want to be a part of the system that creates a powerful CNMI that survives,” Angello said.
The JGO/PUTC joint committee has agreed to endorse his reappointment.
The only other CPUC member is its chair, James Sirok, the former legal counsel of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Under the law, CPUC shall have five members appointed by the governor and confirmed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
