The two main reasons why turnover takes place within organizations generally stems from either problems with the individual in the position and/or the management who they report to. If the reasons for the turnover are not addressed and reasonable solutions to any problems are not pursued, then the stability of the organization will suffer and the productivity and efficiency will be hampered.
Since Benigno Fitial took office in Jan. 2006, there have been four Department of Public Safety commissioners in the CNMI. All the individuals who were appointed to those positions are presumably qualified to handle the administrative and management duties and responsibilities.
The only people who will know what took place during the short stints of the former DPS commissioners are the commissioners who were removed and the person who removed them. The last DPS head Clyde Norita was replaced because of an action regarding travel authorization. Why wasn’t Norita written-up for what he did in lieu of being fired outright?
Norita told the media recently that Fitial’s Senior Policy Adviser Ray Mafnas was instrumental in persuading Fitial to remove him. It makes you wonder if Mafnas was involved with the replacement of the other commissioners. And if that’s the case, then would it be appropriate to give him the title of “Senior Hatchet Man”?
I suspect the real truth about why those other commissioners were replaced would come out if they were interviewed. The media would be a good choice in terms of conducting interviews with former DPS heads and find out the real truth about their removal.
The commissioner of public safety in the CNMI is responsible for ensuring the safety of all the people in the island community. Without proper and adequate safety, the people in the island community are prone to potential problems and their safety is at risk. I guess we will have to see just how long the new DPS Commissioner Tudela will keep his job and provide the people with public safety considered one of the most essential services.
DR. JESUS D. CAMACHO
Delano, California
