ACTING Gov. Diego T. Benavente yesterday said he had asked Gov. Juan N. Babauta to re-appoint Roman S. Palacios to the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s board of directors.
Palacios stepped down as CPA chairman when his term expired on June 7.
“I have asked the governor to re-appoint Mr. Palacios, and the governor said he will consider it,” Benavente said.
“It will be up to the governor,” he added. “I cannot say right now (if he would be re-appointed).”
Palacios served as CPA chairman for more than three years. He was appointed to the CPA board in 1998 by then Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
CPA Vice Chairman Jose R. Lifoifoi is the authority’s acting chairman.
In a separate interview yesterday, Palacios said Babauta was willing to discuss his tenure on the CPA board.
“According to the lieutenant governor, the governor really wants to talk to me, but he is off-island,” Palacios said.
“He is the governor. Let him choose whoever he wants. But if he wants me to continue to help CPA, I’ll be glad to serve under his administration,” Palacios said.
Palacios served as board member of CPA from 1983 to 1993.
He resigned when Froilan C. Tenorio became governor in 1994.
Palacios is also chairman and CEO of Saipan Stevedore Company, Inc.
