He was asked to comment about the photographs of the governor and other CNMI officials, Demapan among them, taken at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. The photos were circulated on the Internet yesterday.
Demapan accused the wife of Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan’s chief of staff of lifting the photos from the Facebook account of the governor’s wife.
Demapan said “it is appalling that such a deceptive act will be dignified by the media.”
The media should resort to fair means only when obtaining news, documents or photos, he said.
Facebook is a social networking service with close to 800 million active users.
“I have received information earlier today that Jude Marfil-Schwalbach, the wife of Bob Schwalbach, chief of staff of Delegate Kilili, originated email distribution of photos lifted without consent from a social network profile belonging to the first lady,” Demapan said.
“This is the same type of action that led to the demise of Rupert Murdoch’s news corporation. Everyone and all media services should have learned from the mistakes of Mr. Murdoch’s company,” he added.
Demapan said for every single trip they took, the per diem was never equal to how much they actually pay for lodging and meals so they always end up digging their own pockets.
He said they are not reimbursed for these extra costs.
“If we spend beyond $250, we have to get it from individual pockets. All the time, we had to use our own money and that is the sacrifice we make as public servants,” he added.
He said the “dinner was simply dinner and they were paid for personally by the governor.”
Most of their per diem funds, Demapan added, “were exhausted on hotel costs given the higher median price of lodging in both California and Washington, D.C.” so the money spent for the food depicted in the picture came out of their own pockets.
Demapan said the administration does not find it appropriate to comment about issues raised “behind the cloak of anonymity or [about] photos that are personal belongings of others and not official photos of the administration.”
He said despite the actions of Mrs. Schwalbach, which may also be viewed as “reflective of the delegate’s office to discredit the administration,” the administration will not be deterred in its mission to ensure that the pressing issues of the commonwealth are adequately defended in the nation’s capital.
Demapan noted that the photograph of former Commerce Secretary Mike Ada wearing a bib in front of a lobster dish was misleading.
Ada, who was awarded a close to $400,000 sole-source contract by the governor, was not with them during Fitial’s recent trip to the U.S.
Variety was unable to get a comment from Mrs. Schwalbach as of press time.
Disgusting
Concerned citizen Ed Propst said the CNMI is broke, and it is disgusting to see the governor and other administration officials eating five-pound lobsters.
A resident, who declined to be identified, agreed. “It’s disgusting and he should be deeply ashamed along with every other government employee who unnecessarily travels, eats, and drives on the taxpayer’s tab. But there is a deep sense of shameless entitlement among government [officials] of all kind. Legislators, judges, and executive branch alike, and this makes it very easy for them to justify their choices. With one hand they take from us, and with the other they take for themselves as long as taxpayers allow, it will certainly continue.”
“While the CNMI burns, the privileged few party in San Francisco and D.C. and Japan,” said another resident.
Pricey
Variety learned that the governor and his entourage had dinner at the Palm Restaurant in Washington D.C, described as the best place for “power lunch.”
Palm Restaurant, according to its website, is known for steaks and chops.
The house specialty is their “tender, succulent, premium lobsters from Nova Scotia.” A broiled jumbo Nova Scotia lobster costs $24.95 per pound.
Lobsters come in three, four, and five pounds.
Another interesting item on the menu is the jumbo cold water Nova Scotia tail that costs $54.90.
A 36-ounce Prime New York Strip is $94 but it’s good for two to three people.
Delmonico Steak, 18 ounces, costs $39 while a prime bone-in rib-eye steak is $49.
Salads range from $7 to $14.90 while appetizers are from $8.50 to $19.90.
For those into vegetables, the restaurant menu offers leaf spinach, $10.50; green beans, $10.50; Brussels sprouts, $10.50; asparagus fritti, $11.90; goat cheese whipped potatoes, $10.60, among other.
Its classic Italian food menu ranges in price from $28.90 (braised veal and sage ravioli) to $31.90 (veal Parmigiana).
