Candice Muna
THE Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has terminated the employment of grants writer Candice Nicole LG Muna.
“Your 90-day probationary period, including one extension, has expired. CUC has decided not to offer you an employment with the corporation,” CUC Executive Director Kevin Watson said in his Oct. 17, 2023 letter to Muna.
“CUC has the intent to hire you on a 90-day probationary status, a period subject to separation with or without cause,” he added. “Conversion to regular employment status depends upon satisfactory performance within the probationary period.”
Asked about Muna in an interview, Watson said, “I don’t think she is a whistleblower. Because there is no substantiated corruption … and it’s just accusations she is making.”
He added, “The accusations were personnel matters and nothing to do with corruption or anything of that sort … and just a grievance she filed against another employee … and that leads to the need to protect the privacy of all individuals … and that’s the only thing I can say about that.”
Earlier, Muna was placed on administrative leave for “insubordination” and “engaging in unauthorized representations and communications on behalf of the Corporation with local and federal partners without proper authorization.”
According to CUC, “a formal complaint has been lodged against [Muna] regarding harassment and creating a hostile work environment.”
Grievances
In a statement on Sunday, Muna said she is a whistleblower.
She said in her role as a grants writer at CUC, “I witnessed first-hand a pattern of inefficiency, mismanagement, unjust hiring practices and handling of grievances by HR and senior management, corruption, cronyism, and mismanagement of the utility that directly and adversely affects the lives, health and well-being of the people of the CNMI. When I saw these practices unfolding and realized the impact they had on our community — particularly the unjust financial burden placed on ratepayers and the manipulation of public and federal funds — I knew I had to speak up. My decision was not an easy one, as it has led to significant personal and professional repercussions, including my termination. Yet, I am compelled to take this stand for the betterment of our community, knowing that the people of the CNMI deserve leaders and public servants who are accountable, transparent, and committed to the common good.”
She said since her termination, CUC’s leadership, “through … figurehead Kevin Watson, have tried to discredit me by labeling me as a disgruntled employee. They aim to silence me, painting me as someone acting out of spite, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. After my testimony at the Legislature on October 3, 2024, I faced not just professional retaliation but a deeply personal violation: a non-consensual photo and video of me were spread online by some CUC employees, their families, and allies, posted by a former partner under a fake profile. This kind of cyber exploitation is not only illegal under both local and federal laws, but it is also a form of abuse and retaliation for my whistleblower activities. Furthermore, it was brought to my attention that these cyberbullying attacks by some CUC employees occurred during government working hours, which means that these CUC employees were paid with the ratepayers’ money to unlawfully bully me. This further strengthens my case that CUC leadership condones such behaviors and is wasting ratepayer and taxpayer funds when it should be focusing on more productive work.”
She said on Oct. 16, 2024, “five days after being informed that my grievance was deemed ‘unfounded’ by both the HR Manager and the Executive Director, I filed a formal appeal with the CUC Board of Directors. Despite the HR Manager’s claim of conducting a ‘thorough’ investigation, I was asked to provide witnesses and evidence on my own — something my legal counsel advised was unnecessary given the clear conflict of interest between the HR Manager and the subject of my grievance. In my last communication with the Executive Director, I specifically stated that I did not consent to the HR manager doing the investigation due to his tenant-landlord relationship with the subject of my grievance’s family. However, on the day I submitted my appeal to the Board of Directors, out of professional courtesy, I submitted a detailed appeal packet to the Executive Director, which included my original grievance filed on August 23, 2024, and email correspondence that raised concerns about conflicts of interest between the HR Manager who was assigned to investigate my grievance and the CFO who accepted free and discounted office renovations from the subject of my grievance. I was informed the next day that before my grievance went to the Board, it was intercepted by the HR Manager and Legal Counsel who handles HR and Billing Disputes, who informed the Board that they did not have to review my appeal. The next day, I was terminated,” Muna added.
She said despite receiving a termination letter, “I will not be silenced. This fight is not about me — it’s about the people of the CNMI and the future we all deserve.”
“The corruption, the conflicts of interest, and the blatant disregard for public accountability within CUC must be addressed,” she added. “The people of the CNMI deserve better — our people have been cheated for far too long. We deserve leaders who will act in our interest — not for personal gain. Going forward, I will continue to stand for fairness, transparency, and the ethical use of public funds in service of all people, not just a select few, no matter the challenges I face. I believe CUC has met their match and I am prepared to move forward legally to pursue justice. In doing so, I will ensure that no other person in the CNMI falls victim to CUC’s abuse of power and authority.”
