He said he could not tell if the position is still necessary so “maybe we don’t need to replace her,” referring to Kaipat who went on leave last month before tending her resignation.
The governor described Kaipat as “very, very hardworking.”
Fitial said the only reason the deputy Labor secretary resigned is because of her health.
“She wants to take care of her health and I respect that,” he said.
Hopefully, Fitial added, Kaipat can come back as soon as she gets better so she can continue to help his administration.
A former administrative hearing officer of Labor, Kaipat won a Precinct 1 House seat as a Covenant Party candidate in 2005 but did not get reelected in 2007.
In 2009, she finished third in the eight-person race for Saipan’s two Senate seats.
A law school graduate, Kaipat is an environmental advocate who co-founded Beautify CNMI!
With Dr. Beret E. Strong, she co-produced the 1998 film “Lieweila: A Micronesian Story,” which documents the origins and cultural history of the Refalawasch of the Northern Marianas.
