Otherwise, he added, the Legislature is not likely to support it.
Since it was sworn into office in Jan. 2006, the Fitial administration has indicated that it wanted to bring CDA under the governor’s control.
During the past two years, the governor abolished the autonomous public lands agency, which is now one of his executive departments. He has also declared states of emergency to take over the autonomous Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
Reyes, R-Saipan, said any proposal to end CDA’s autonomy has to be analyzed.
“We need to know why such a proposal is being discussed because in the absence of any fact-finding to back it up, I don’t think we (lawmakers) will allow it,” he said.
He believes that if CDA has some problems, the administration can implement “corrective measures” instead of taking over the agency.
“The government can always appoint new board members,” he added. “We need to know the motives behind all this. This is truly scary.”
He noted that the governor signed an executive order allowing CUC to borrow above the $500,000 limit.
“If the governor has good intentions, then he must lay his proposals down on the table,” Reyes said. “But until we see his justifications we will object to any plan that will end CDA’s autonomy.”
The governor asked for the resignation of the CDA board members last year.
For two years now, CDA has yet to name a permanent executive director.
