Demapan’s resignation that took effect on Sept. 30 created a second vacancy in the CNMI judiciary. The first post was vacated by former Superior Court Judge Ramona V. Manglona who is now a federal judge.
Although “there are well-wishers who have been wishing me well,” Fitial said he has not really considered anyone for the chief justice’s post.
Asked what he meant by people wishing him well, the governor said, “When you want something you wish somebody well, right?”
In a separate interview, Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, who had requested the governor to postpone judicial nominees, said he respects Fitial’s opinion.
Cruz, R-Tinian, is chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation.
In related news, Fitial said he already has a list of seven potential appointees for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. advisory board.
He declined to name any of them because he said he has not decided who among them will be appointed.
The Commonwealth Health Center was expected to start functioning over the weekend while still in the process of forming its advisory board, according to Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez.
Once the board is formed it will appoint a chief executive officer.
Villagomez said he is supposed to discuss with the CEO-designate what functions and duties will be divided between them.
The administration’s goal, he added, is to abolish the Department of Public Health as an entity, he added.
It wants to put everyone under the healthcare corporation except the medical referral office and Medicare which will be under the governor’s office.
