Ben Borja, a former Department of Public Safety official, told Variety that the employees are “so disheartened” with the failure of government officials to fulfill their promise.
The government owed $520,913.84 in retroactive salaries to over 100 employees on Tinian, some of whom are no longer in government service while others have already passed away.
Before the election last year, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos promised he would work for the release of the required funds.
Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz also assured Tinian residents that he would find ways to pay the recipients.
“We voted for them because they promised that in the election,” Borja said.
Variety tried but failed to get a comment from the mayor.
Last year, the Marianas Public Lands Trust approved Tinian’s request to borrow up to $1 million for the payment of the retroactive salaries and the other obligations of the municipal government.
Borja said they are now asking the Tinian Legislative Delegation and municipal leadership as well as the governor‘s office to hasten the allocation of funds for the retroactive salaries mandated by Public Law 7-31, which took effect in May 1991.
The last payment of $2,082 to each worker was made on March 2, 2007, Borja said.
On Dec. 29, 2006, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed a local bill appropriating $403,737 from the license fee and taxes collected from the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino for payment of the retroactive salary adjustments.
Borja said the Tinian municipal government collected $155,230.10 and $229,351.01 from Tinian Dynasty’s license fee and taxes in January and February this year.
In March, the municipal government collected $138,796.27, he added.
But there are still no funds allotted for the retroactive salaries, he said.
