former CUC executive director. CISCO was supposed to repair the engines of Power Plant 2 “to increase CUC’s reserve power capacity.”
The then-CUC executive director justified the contract by pointing out that the agency “does not currently have reserve power [and] we consider this situation an emergency.” He described CISCO as a “qualified on-island business for these urgently needed services.” CISCO was supposed to increase the plant’s power production to at least 10 megawatts to allow for the shutdown and repairs of Power Plant 1’s engines. In June 2006, CUC and CISCO signed a “change order” amounting to an additional $135,436.
More than two years later, only one engine of Power Plant 2 is operational, so to speak. The engine has a 2.5-megawatt capacity but can only produce 1.8 megawatts. Power Plant 1’s engines, for their part, have yet to be overhauled. CUC, which signed a $5.1 million contract for the repair of these engines, now says it needs to sign yet another contract, for $6 million, this time with Aggreko, so that the repairs can proceed.
In other words, this administration wants to spend close to $12 million for the repair of apparently irreparable engines.
What happens now to money paid to CISCO? Why did it get paid anyway? The same goes with DCM. CUC says the company did not comply with its contract. Why should it be paid then?
The ongoing investigation, however, should not be limited to the CISCO contract. It should cover all the sole-source deals awarded by this administration to its other “consultants” and contractors. Enough is enough.
The administration’s handling of CUC and the power crisis is emblematic of its incompetence and failure to live up to its campaign pledges. It promised to cut power rates. It quadrupled them. It vowed to fix CUC. It made it worse. It claims to be pro-business. Businesses are dying. It guaranteed Better Times, but ushered all of us back to the Dark Ages.
No mas. No more.
About the Liberation Day parade
THE number of floats that participated in this year’s Liberation Day parade was an indication of the island’s worsening economic crisis. There were only five small floats, compared to last year’s 15. But despite all this talk about cost-cutting measures due to high gasoline prices, an agency of this bankrupt government, DPS, joined the parade by bringing in its fire trucks and other gas-guzzling vehicles. What for? And then there’s one of the governor’s favorite companies, PTI and its 20 or so vehicles. Again, why? What was the point of this splurging on pricey gasoline?
The parade’s highlight, however, was not these ostentatious displays, but the participants who showcased a variety of cultures and commendable causes. These included Falun Dafa of China, the Domatsuri Group of Japan, the school bands, the Friends of the Library, the MotherRead/FatherRead Program, the Pathfinder group, the Rhythm and Body Crew, the Russian dancers, the Lions Club, the CNMI Nursing Association, the Chinese Association, the Korean Association, UFO, the NMI Football Association, Uncle Ben’s Saipan Dream Academy, the Project Impact teens, the Inatuas, the manamko’, the CNMI Little Baseball All-Stars, the Liberation Day queen and her court, the grand marshal and the visiting group from India.
Their participation demonstrated, once again, the richness of the cultures on island and the local people’s hospitality. Congratulations and thank you to all of them.
