This was what CPA ExecutiveDirector Efrain Camacho told Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
Camacho, who took over CPA’s helm on Nov. 10, said he was told by the staff that they can function better without interference from the board
“What I am getting out is it is extremely important for the board to really stay out of the day to day management and for the board members to understand their duties,” Camacho said.
“What I am trying to do is to get my message across to the board that when they hired a person to manage the CPA, let him manage it without them (board members) coming everyday to ask questions and dip their fingers in the daily operations.”
He said that a lot of things are done half baked at CPA.
“There are a lot of things that we really should have been taking care of,” Camacho said. He said he could not be held responsible for what has happened in the past but what he is involved in now is pushing the agency to move forward.
“What is really important is for the board to let the management team do the work without their interference,” Camacho said.
He added that he may hire an outside firm to do an input-output model for the seaports and airports.
“This should be a model that people should be looking at so necessary adjustments can be made for the improvement of CPA,” he said.
He said that what happens is that no one seems to be monitoring CPA.
He encouraged the public and private sectors to be responsible and exercise their duty to come in and tell the public institutions if they are doing wrong or heading in the wrong path.
Camacho said although he personally does not like his job, he took it because he could not just sit and watch the agency go down the tube.
“I took the job because of my goal which is to see CPA grow into a respectable agency,” Camacho said. He added that he could be leaving his post in the near future.
“I’m told that I could be walking to the exit door even next month,” he said.
Camacho’s contract allows him to be terminated with or without cause with a 30-day notice, but he said he can also terminate the contract with or without cause.
Camacho was appointed by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in August to take over CPA, following the retirement of then acting Executive Director Lee Cabrera.
