A DYSFUNCTIONAL government.
This is how former Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta described the administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres who responded by saying that the former governor’s comment was “unfair and unwarranted.”
Running as an independent, Babauta lost to Torres in a landslide in the 2018 general election.
In an interview, Babauta noted the “collapse of the casino industry” and the “stunning and unprecedented” raids conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation two years ago in the office and residence of the governor.
Babauta also cited the impeachment of Governor Torres by the House of Representatives and the “stonewalling of the impeachment hearings by witnesses demanding that the hearings be held in the vernacular even though English is well spoken by them.”
He said another “sign” of a dysfunctional government is the “split” between the governor and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios who is now running for governor with Saipan Mayor David Apatang, and the “Senate debacle resulting in vicious name-calling and near fist-fight” between Sens. Victor Hocog and Paul A. Manglona triggered by the “Senate’s effort to railroad the approval of sham impeachment rules drafted by the Senate joint committee in secrecy,” Babauta added.
He said the “handling” of the Covid-19 pandemic has been “disastrous, resulting in the widespread infection in the community along with questionable contracts and use of federal funds, the use of emergency declarations to justify sole-source contracts, the Pagan vacation in disguise of promoting tourism, the questionable use of federally funded resources in the governor’s other boating trips, the weaponizing of the medical referral program in favor of political allies, the questionable travel bubble with tourism markets resulting in the waste of federal funds and the dysfunction of the Zoning Office that is a total disincentive to investors who want to invest in the CNMI.”
Babauta said the CNMI government under Governor Torres has been “in debt every year, for the last five years.”
“How much more shame can the people of the CNMI endure? It’s time to resign,” Babauta said, adding that “it’s hard to keep silent when the CNMI keeps sinking into the deep Mariana Trench.”
Incredible challenges
Asked for comment, Governor Torres issued the following statement:
“I would first like to acknowledge how our private sector has experienced incredible challenges in the last several years. Natural disasters and a global pandemic have made it a monumental challenge to do business in the CNMI.
“However, we are making our way to recovery hand in hand with leaders of private enterprise in a way that has never been seen before. Prior to this pandemic, we saw great successes in business growth and employment for our people, and while businesses are in transition, I am confident that we will return to this economic strength through new investments to hotel facilities, such as the Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, and Kensington Hotel. Additionally, other industries such as the cannabis industry are still intact and growing, all while we are working on rebuilding the Japanese market that was lost under the Babauta administration.
“The CNMI government is composed of many divisions and thousands of public employees that work hard to carry out their duties as diligently as they can. It is unfair and unwarranted for the former governor to say that our government — our people — are dysfunctional.
“Our government has made so much progress during my administration, from the completion of Route 36, the completion of Airport Road, and now the finalization of plans for the reconstruction and improvement of Beach Road. We have accomplished so much, including providing bonuses to retirees in the past as we are trying to do so now, of which he has received. Our Covid-19 operations and response, commended by many including the World Health Organization, are the product of the hardworking employees of this government. How dare he insult the hardworking employees of this government, who have worked tirelessly and risked their own lives since the beginning of the pandemic to protect our entire community, to include himself.
“The former governor should not blur his personal opinions about certain issues with how well this government is doing. There is nothing dysfunctional about our high vaccination rate, our smoother roads, and all the great things we are accomplishing for our people.
“It is not surprising that someone who has lost almost every time he has sought re-election is commenting on the economy and this government during an election year. One benefit of having the former governor come out of hiding every election season is that it gives the community the opportunity to look back at the progress that has been made since those troubled times under his leadership. My administration will continue to push forward for our people, despite existing and unprecedented setbacks. We have grown and improved, overcome tremendous obstacles, and despite the negative and unjustified comments, we will continue to make this Commonwealth a better place for everyone to live in — including the former governor.”
Juan N. Babauta
