IN response to concerns raised by the House minority bloc regarding his off-island trips in the past five years, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Friday said all of those trips were taken to represent the CNMI.
Ralph DLG Torres
“At the end of the day, I am the governor. I am the executive here and my responsibility is to make sure that I represent the CNMI the best I can to places [and] events,” he said.
“I’ve taken those trips in the best interest of the CNMI.”
The governor said that he has not seen the official report that was submitted by the House minority bloc to Speaker Blas Jonathan T. Attao.
Torres said he will read the 24-page report before making any comments on its accuracy.
According to the House minority bloc, the records showed that the governor took 102 trips that cost the government at least $490,000 in airfare, per diem and stipends, lodging, ground transportation, boat transportation, fuel, and incidentals from January 2015 to July 2020.
Moreover, the report stated that the governor always traveled with companions, including his spouse, personal security detail, other staff and other officials at government expense.
Of the governor’s 102 trips, 78 involved travel outside of the CNMI and at least 40 of these trips were first class or business class, in violation of l CMC § 7407, the report stated.
It added that government travel records indicate that first-class and business-class airfare costs for the governor alone during the period in review totaled approximately $178,000.
