Commonwealth Ports Authority nominees Antonio Cabrera, left, and Bruce Jorgensen, right, are seen in the Senate gallery with those who will testify before the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations on Wednesday in the Senate chamber.
EXCEPT for former Sen. Pete P. Reyes, all those who appeared before the Senate Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations Committee on Wednesday expressed their support for the confirmation of attorney Bruce Jorgensen’s nomination to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board.
It was Special Assistant for Administration Oscar M. Babauta who introduced Jorgensen and the other CPA board nominee, Antonio Cabrera, to the committee on behalf of Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang.
Present in the hearing were the EAGI chairwoman, Sen. Celina R. Babauta, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona and Sen. Paul A. Manglona.
All those who testified and submitted written testimonies regarding the nomination of Cabrera, a former Saipan sea port manager, expressed support for his confirmation.
Reject
As for Jorgensen’s nomination, Reyes, who is a member of the CPA board, said the Senate should reject it.
He believes that Jorgensen is “absolutely qualified,” perhaps “presumably over-qualified” to serve on the CPA board, but the nominee’s residency on Rota is questionable, Reyes said.
He cited 1 CMC Section 6204 which states that “the residence of a person is that place in which that person’s habitation is fixed, and to which whenever the person is absent the person has the intention to return…. The mere intention to require a new residence without physical presence at such place, does not establish residency, neither does mere physical presence without the concurrent present intention to establish such place as the person’s residence.”
Reyes stressed the importance of residency because it indicates if one is a real stakeholder.
He doubts if Jorgensen is a true stakeholder of Rota, adding that for many years, Jorgensen was “nowhere to be seen.”
Reyes said it appears that Jorgensen is using another individual’s home address in an attempt to establish residency on Rota.
He said there is also an appearance of conflict of interest because Jorgensen was member of the Palacios-Apatang transition committee assigned to CPA.
Members of the transition committee were not supposed to be appointed to serve in the agency or board they evaluated, he added.
Reyes said how Jorgensen managed to be part of the transition committee “is beyond me, but I respect the governor’s authority to appoint anyone he wants.”
However, Reyes said, “I worry that Jorgensen will end up telling all the board and staff what is good for CPA and our people by proclaiming himself an expert in what is good for the CNMI.”
He said “that has been the general perception in the past when we, as real stakeholders, are told that we do not know what is better for us, [while they] lecture us; and like stupid idiots, we allow them to tell us as such, to treat us as such.”
Reyes likewise questioned Jorgensen’s integrity, character and loyalty, saying “I wonder how damaging he can be during meetings.”
Confirm
Marianas Visitors Authority acting Board Chairwoman Gloria Cavanagh, who testified in support of Jorgensen, “begged to differ.”
She said “one cannot choose where to be born, but one can choose what to call home later in life.”
Cavanagh, who is from Guam (not from the states as earlier reported), said the CNMI has been her home for the last 13 years, during which she has served for the betterment of the people of the Commonwealth. “I really consider retiring here,” she added.
Cavanagh noted that the MVA board member who represents Tinian does not actually live there.
“And why is that? It is because of the [board member’s] talent. Can you find somebody to represent the Rota people who has better experience and background than Bruce? I would like to see that person,” she said.
For his part, Rep. John Paul Sablan, who chairs the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, expressed support for the nominations of Cabrera and Jorgensen.
He said he has known Cabrera almost all his life as he is also related to the nominee.
Sablan said Cabrera has worked for CPA and, if confirmed, his institutional knowledge in maritime industry will definitely benefit the board.
Regarding Jorgensen, Sablan noted the lawyer’s “vast knowledge as well his maritime industry experience globally.”
“I am confident that he will also serve very well as CPA board member if confirmed,” Sablan added.
Former Department of Public Works Public Information Officer Felipe Atalig also testified in support of Jorgensen who, he said, has very impressive credentials.
He said Jorgensen also served as Rota Mayor Prudencio T. Manglona’s legal counsel for many years, and had “volunteered most of his time to help the people of Rota.”
