COMMONWEALTH Ports Authority board member Antonio “Potu” B. Cabrera is applying for the executive director’s position.
He submitted his application and credentials to CPA’s human resource management office on Monday in response to a vacancy announcement. CPA Executive Director Christopher Tenorio’s resignation takes effect on Oct. 6, 2023.
In an interview on Thursday, Cabrera, who was sworn in on Aug. 24 to represent Saipan on the board, said once his application is accepted, he will resign from the board.
He said he has also prepared a letter to CPA Board Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds and his fellow board members to inform them that he will recuse himself from participating in any board meeting that will discuss the hiring of a new executive director.
Cabrera said he believes he can apply for the executive director’s position because there’s no law that prevents anyone from applying.
“Right now I don’t see a conflict of interest. There’s nothing in the law that says a board member cannot apply for the position,” he said. “And I will resign once my application is accepted,” he reiterated.
Reacting to those who are “making an issue” about his decision, Cabrera said, “There are three types of people: those who make things happen, those that just watch things happen, and those that wonder what the hell is going on.”
Cabrera served CPA for 10 years from 1994 until he retired in 2004 as manager of airport and then seaport. At one time during that period, he also served as acting CPA executive director.
He has a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University in California, and completed merchant marine and navigation training in Hawaii. He also attended airport management training in Arizona and the International Program for Ports Planning and Management in New Orleans. He was the incident commander of an oil spill management training session on Guam.
Commonwealth Ports Authority board member Antonio “Potu” B. Cabrera smiles during a board meeting in the conference room of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
