Mathilda A. Rosario, OPM director, said the review will be carried out through the technical assistance that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs provided to the CNMI.
“The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is facing significant financial challenges. These challenges indicate that a review of the CNMI government programs is necessary,” she said in a memorandum circulated this week to different public offices.
She asked each government agency to nominate a representative who will be part of the review team.
The team will conduct interviews, collect data, validate its findings and prepare a draft report.
Dr. Pete C. Eche, the training director of OPM, is coordinating the project.
“The Department of Finance initiated organizational review with technical assistance from the Office of Insular Affairs to identify existing organizational structure and staffing that may potentially be required to help the government make sound business decisions on downsizing, outsourcing, and privatization, while minimizing the social and economic impacts of those decisions,” said Rosario.
The local government currently pays for the services of about 4,000 employees.
