Gabriel Evangelista, the Tinian director of the Division of Revenue and Taxation, said they knew they did not have to work because they were not listed as “essential.”
But Customs personnel had to monitor the arrival of fuel for the island’s power plant, he added.
Evangelista said he and six employees reported for work on Friday, the first day of the government shutdown. He said they are aware they are not going to get back pay.
Yesterday, three of them reported for work.
He said Rev & Tax must be open because this week is the collection period.
He also said other “nonessential” government offices remained open to inform members of the community about “what’s going on during this shutdown.”
He said working on a voluntary basis “feels good because you know it’s for the benefit of the people. It is one way of showing you really care.”
Rota
On Rota, “it’s like the Lord died,” municipal council secretary Prudencio Manglona said.
But since the island is preparing for the San Francisco fiesta, which will be held on Oct. 10, somebody has to take care of government properties that will be used during the event, he added.
He said he and other government employees are working on a voluntary basis.
At the municipal council, three of its 11 staffers had to work since Friday to help prepare for the coming fiesta.
“We are not used to see offices closed during weekdays,” Manglona said, “but we don’t want to see our surroundings littered with trash.”
So they have to “come out and volunteer to keep our environment safe, clean and beautiful,” he added.
Patience
Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, yesterday asked island residents to be patient and to remain calm, saying the Legislature was trying to resolve the budget impasse.
“While I understand the pain and suffering, anger and despair the people of Rota as well as the commonwealth are going through as a result of a government shutdown, I humbly ask for your understanding, patience and calmness as the Legislature continues to meet in resolving and hopefully passing a new budget soon,” she said.
Santos also apologized to the people of Rota and the commonwealth for the Legislature’s failure to pass a budget in a timely manner.
She said passing a budget requires a tedious process and negotiations to reach a mutual compromise.
“I also cannot do it alone. I ask for God’s divine intervention as we, the Legislature, attempts to resolve the budget issue for the sake of the people we serve and represent,” she said.
Santos at the same time noted that the governor now allows all Rota Health Center personnel to report for work during the shutdown.
In the governor’s first memorandum, only the physicians and staff nurse at the center were allowed to work.
Disbelief
On Saipan yesterday, some people expressed disbelief that payments for motor vehicle registration were not being accepted by the judiciary’s cashier.
“I thought the government needs money?” a motorist told the Variety.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles was not included on the list of “essential” services.
“I am just concerned that I will be on the road driving a vehicle with an expired registration,” the motorist said.
“What if there is an accident involving non-registered motor vehicles? I thought the government cares about public safety?” he asked.
Affected
In a separate interview, U.S. Department of the Interior field representative R. Jeffrey Schorr said federal program should not be affected by the shutdown.
“If they are affected, I think this would potentially create some problems,” he said.
The CNMI may lose federal funding, he added.
The shutdown included federally funded programs like the Aging Center and the Historic Preservation Office.
The administration has said that these agencies also receive local funding.
