THE Commonwealth Ports Authority has elected newly appointed member Jose Lifoifoi as its new board chairman replacing Roman Palacios.
The board made the decision during its regular meeting on Friday.
Two members, Roman Tudela and Prudencio Manglona, moved “to postpone the election until the vacancy is filled,” but they were outnumbered.
In a majority vote, former Speaker Lifoifoi was elected as the new chairman of the board.
“They wanted to settle the matter immediately to ensure stability,” CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said.
Lifoifoi was appointed to the CPA board last month.
Also elected were Antonio Camacho as vice chairman, Roman Tudela as secretary and Ray Cing as treasurer.
The committee chairmanships have not been changed, but Lifoifoi, according to Salas, has the prerogative to name new committee heads.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta has neither named a new chairman nor reappointed Palacios whose term ended early last month.
According to the board, it earlier sent a letter to the governor urging him to re-appoint Palacios, but no action was made on the request.
Palacios also tried—and failed— to seek an audience with Babauta.
Palacios, in January this year, handed his courtesy resignation to Babauta who rejected it.
Up to the last minute, Palacios was hoping to get re-appointed to the board, sources said.
“He really likes serving on the CPA board,” a source said.
The CPA board governs the operations and administration of the CNMI’s seaports and airports.
