From left, Lt. Gov.-elect David M. Apatang, Gov.-elect Arnold I. Palacios, Reps. Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler field questions from members of the media during a press conference at the AD 2022 headquarters in Garapan on Monday.
THE incoming Independent administration’s transition committee, which will include the former Democratic gubernatorial tandem of Reps. Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler, will “open the books,” Gov.-elect Arnold I. Palacios said at a press conference on Monday, referring to the government’s financial records.
Joining Palacios and Lt. Gov.-elect David M. Apatang at the press conference were Sablan, Staffler and other Democrats who supported the Independent gubernatorial ticket.
Palacios said the transition team will request all records of expenditures dating back to three or four years.
“Sometimes, you need to air out everything in order to make sure that if there were any wrongdoings we need to correct that,” he added.
He said they are not going to do it because of a personal vendetta, but because “the public deserves” to know.
Palacios said one of their campaign promises is to “open the book and we will be transparent about it.”
He said the transition team will also take a look at the statutes to make sure they won’t overstep their boundaries. “I want to make sure that…they are not going to step on anybody’s legal rights or…doing it outside of the statute,” he added.
Besides Sablan and Staffler, the transition committee will include individuals from the Palacios-Apatang Independent team, the NMI Democratic Party, lawmakers, including from Rota and Tinian, and some “apolitical individuals.”
Palacios said those who are responsible for any wrongdoing would be held accountable, “and that’s part of good governance.”
As for how the American Rescue Plan Act funds were spent, Palacios said he hopes that the current administration can justify its ARPA expenditures.
At the end of the day, he added, “it is not going to be me who is going to hold them accountable,” referring to federal policies and statutes that govern those programs.
If there are “illegal…expenditures, then they are going to be held accountable. I would hope that none of that has occurred, but, hey, we don’t know until we open the books, right?”
Palacios again thanked Sablan, Staffler and the NMI Democratic Party saying, “Your support of our vision to rebuild trust in our government touched our hearts…. Together, we will rebuild trust and bring the change our people voted for. We share this success with you.”
According to Apatang, “We have a commitment, and the unity pledge [with the Democrats] stands. We honor that, we will pursue it to make sure that things are done right for our people in this Commonwealth.”
Staffler said the people’s mandate is “clear”: “we should expect more from our government and its leaders. We know that our resources are finite, and the decisions made today will greatly affect the future.”
In a statement, Sablan said: “People will be paying very close attention to the transition, because it will demonstrate the kind of leadership we will be able to expect from the Palacios-Apatang administration. Typically and historically, the transition process has been a time of fear and trepidation for some. A time of jockeying for jobs and contracts. Calling in favors. Waging vendettas.”
She added, “It is my hope and expectation that this transition will be different. Because Arnold and Dave have promised to be different. They’ve promised to rebuild trust. They’ve promised to heal. It is essential that the transition reflect the values and commitments to good governance outlined in the Unity Pledge that we signed and unveiled a little over a week ago.”
She said these “are the values of fairness, integrity, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. These are the commitments to open up the books and be honest with the people about the true fiscal condition of our government and where we go from here. The commitment to end the culture of political intimidation, cronyism, and nepotism in our government. To ensure fairness in government hiring and contracting. To restore the merit-based system of public employment, and accept applications for political appointments as well. To exercise due diligence and care in considering all appointments to positions of authority, including but not limited to our law enforcement agencies. We need ethical, qualified people in leadership across our government.”
At the same time, “we should also expect more of ourselves, as citizens, to do our part in building a better community where everyone can thrive. We have many problems facing our government and our Commonwealth, but these problems are solvable. We can fix our problems and make the Marianas the amazing place it has always had the potential to be.”
She said the “people have given the new Palacios-Apatang administration a clear mandate, and placed in them their trust that Arnold and Dave will be faithful to their promises. And we should all, as citizens, help them right the ship of our government and set our Commonwealth on a new course to a safer, healthier, more equitable, and more beautiful future.”