“He’s a champion and advocate of human rights,” said Irene Tantiado, former president of the Coalition of United Workers (NMI),
Wendy Doromal, for her part, said Benedetto “always treated clients with dignity and respect.”
Doromal said Benedetto was “perfect…as federal ombudsman because he never gave false hope to his clients and never ignored injustice.”
According to the former Rota teacher, “I have even heard him defend the administration that often unjustly attacked him. I wish Jim the best of luck in his new position.”
Rabby Syed, the former acting president of the Coalition of United Workers (NMI), said it was “a real shock” to learn about Benedetto’s departure from the federal ombudsman office.
“A leader like him will always be remembered. We appreciate his effort to help workers,” said Syed who resigned from the coalition on Saturday for personal reasons. He said he continues to support the group.
Benedetto, in an e-mail, said he has been offered another federal job, but declined to elaborate.
“I consider it an honor to have worked for the Office of Insular Affairs as the second ombudsman,” he said. “I have learned a lot from my colleagues in Interior, from those within the local government with whom I have worked so closely, and from the many, many workers who have shared their experiences with me over the years. We have all accomplished a lot together. I hope that people will eventually understand that if I was critical at times, it was because I care about the CNMI and its people. This is my home. And because I think working people — resident and nonresident alike — should get a better deal.”
