By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SENATE Vice President Corina L. Magofna is strongly urging Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture Director Gloriana Teuira to pay local artists and cultural practitioners, who participated in activities organized by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
In her letter to Teuira, the senator said CNMI artists have fulfilled their responsibilities and should not be forced to continue waiting for compensation they have rightfully earned. She “strongly urges immediate action to release all eligible payments without further delay.”
Magofna made the appeal on behalf of artists and cultural practitioners who brought their concerns to her attention regarding delays in payment for services rendered to the Commonwealth. She said these local artists received CCAC approval to participate in its programs and activities.
The senator said the artists and cultural performers have been waiting months, and in many cases more than a year, for payment despite having fulfilled their contractual and programmatic obligations.
“These artists deserve clear answers regarding the status of their payments and an explanation as to why such prolonged delays continue to occur,” Magofna said. She said members of the arts and cultural community play a vital role in preserving the heritage, traditions, and identity of the Commonwealth. They provide valuable services to the government and the public and should not be expected to shoulder the financial burden of administrative delays.
Many of these artists, Magofna said, accepted engagements in good faith with the expectation that they would be compensated within a reasonable timeframe.
The senator said she is particularly concerned about the potential legal and fiscal implications of the delays. Failure to pay individuals for services rendered, she said, “may expose the government to claims for breach of contract, administrative grievances, and other legal actions.”
Furthermore, delayed payments undermine public confidence in government programs and may discourage future participation in cultural initiatives.
She also noted that many CCAC programs are federally funded and subject to expenditure deadlines and performance periods. Failure to timely obligate and expend available funds may result in grant expiration, de-obligation of funds, reduced future funding opportunities, and reputational harm to the Commonwealth, she said.
“At a time when the CNMI cannot afford to lose critical funding resources, every effort should be made to ensure that available funds are used for their intended purposes and within applicable grant timelines,” she said.
The urgency of the matter has been amplified by the economic hardships following Super Typhoon Sinlaku and rising utility costs. Families throughout the Commonwealth, she said, continue to struggle with rising living costs, utility increases, business disruptions, housing repairs, and recovery expenses.
“For many artists and cultural practitioners, the compensation they have earned represents income that is desperately needed to support their households and meet essential obligations,” she said. “Timely payment of these outstanding obligations would not only fulfill commitments already made by the government but would also inject much-needed resources directly into the local economy.”
Magofna requested a complete accounting from Teuira of all outstanding payments owed under CCAC-administered programs, including the amount owed to each individual or entity, the associated funding source, and an explanation of the administrative, fiscal, or procedural barriers causing the delays. She also asked for the current status of all pending payment requests and a projected timeline for processing and issuing all outstanding payments.
The senator also recommended that CCAC conduct an immediate reconciliation of all unpaid obligations; establish a dedicated payment task force with fiscal and procurement personnel; coordinate with the Department of Finance to prioritize overdue artist compensation; develop a payment tracking system to improve transparency and accountability; implement internal deadlines to prevent future delays; and provide periodic status updates to affected artists until all obligations are satisfied.
Variety was unable to get a comment from the Arts Council or DCCA.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
