ACTING Public Auditor Kina Borja Peter said the Office of the Public Auditor can be more efficient and effective through “digital transformation.”
Nominated by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Peter was unanimously confirmed by the House of Representatives last week, and is expected to be confirmed by the Senate anytime soon.
In an interview after the House session on Tuesday last week, she said with digitalization, OPA can do more better.
Asked how she feels about her nomination, Peter said: “I am excited. This is just the first step,” she added, referring to the House vote. “We are now waiting for the Senate.”
‘Exceedingly qualified’
In his testimony during a Senate public hearing on Dec. 22, 2020, Press Secretary Kevin Bautista, speaking on behalf of the governor and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, said Peter is exceedingly qualified for the position.
The public auditor plays a significant role in ensuring an efficient and ethical government for the people of the Commonwealth, Bautista said.
He noted that Peter is a former senior finance leader, senior accountant, senior manager, and accounting manager.
He said Peter came back to serve the CNMI as a certified public accountant licensed in the State of Washington with over 20 years of accounting experience with Deloitte, a Big Four audit firm in the CNMI and Seattle, Washington and most recently for Boeing Company, a multi-billion-dollar Fortune 500 company and one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world.
If confirmed, Peter will be the first female public auditor in Commonwealth history, Bautista said, adding that her appointment adds to the administration’s historic track record of women leadership in government.
Torres and Palacios have appointed the most women to senior government positions in any administration in CNMI history, and Peter will certainly be a female leader for the community, advocating for financial efficiency and efficacy within the Commonwealth government, Bautista said.
“As we all know, this pandemic has brought upon unprecedented times to our global financial system. As an island community subject to external economic forces beyond our control, we know too well how challenging it is to keep basic public services running,” Bautista said.
He added that Peter will demonstrate the leadership and awareness to take on the challenge of auditing public funds and government agencies.
“As she stated in her… announcement a few weeks ago, she is ready to be part of the solution for our island community,” he added.
Peter’s predecessor is Michael Pai who has already served two six-year terms. No person may serve as public auditor for more than two consecutive terms.
