Arnold Palacios
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Friday withdrew his nominations of Richard Dela Cruz Farrell to the Civil Service Commission and Dwayne L. Maratita to the Marianas Visitors Authority board.
The governor nominated Farrell on April 29, 2024, and Maratita on May 1, 2024.
A former Department of Lands and Natural Resources resident director on Tinian, Farrell is vice chair of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s CNMI Advisory Panel while Maratita is a former Department of Community and Cultural Affairs resident director on Rota.
In separate letters to Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, the governor said, due to time constraints, “I regret to inform you that I am withdrawing” the nominations of Farrell and Maratita, but will resubmit them at a later date.
The governor wants Farrell to represent Tinian on the CSC and Maratita to represent Rota on the MVA board.
According to Section 2902, Chapter 1 of the Commonwealth Code:
“Appointments to positions which require the advice and consent of the Senate…shall be submitted to the…presiding officer within 30 days following the date the person was appointed or assumed the position, even in an acting capacity…. If the appointment is not submitted to the presiding officer…within the 30-day period, the appointment shall automatically terminate, the position shall become vacant, and the person shall not be reappointed for the same position.”
Correction: An earlier version of this news story erroneously stated that Farrell represents the CNMI on the fishery council.
