ASSISTANT Interior Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor will visit the CNMI next week as requested by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios.
In a letter to Cantor on Friday, Palacios said: “I am writing to inform you that upon taking the oath of office and assuming my duties as the governor of the [CNMI], we have discovered that our government finances are in considerable disarray. We are assessing the situation with a commitment and dedication to restore best practices in our budget execution and financial management system.”
He said it appears that the CNMI may lack the immediate audit and accountability practices to put its fiscal house in order in a timely manner that would serve and protect the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth.
“Consistent with the historic relationship between the government and people of the CNMI and the Department of the Interior, I urgently request consultations to disclose the extent and scope of the challenges we face, and identify any measures of support and technical assistance your office and the Department of the Interior may be able to provide,” Palacios told Cantor.
He is seeking an in-person discussion with Cantor regarding the CNMI’s financial condition.
“We face some adversity, but we are Americans and Pacific Islanders and together, we will overcome,” he added. “I assure you that we take the task before us very seriously and we are eager to work with you in any way we can.”
At a press conference on Wednesday, Palacios said Cantor had assured him that she would spend a day with the new CNMI administration “to go over some of the things that are at the forefront of the issues that we’re facing today.”
“We hope they can help… I know that her visit will also be to take a look at the progress of some of the projects that we are undertaking under Interior funding,” the governor added.
Carmen G. Cantor
