Commonwealth Utilities Board under fire as management reshuffles

On Saipan, there's more leadership shake up at The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation as another acting executive director resigned just days after he was appointed.  And one house lawmaker has had enough, calling on cnmi taxpayers to file a lawsuit.

Rep. Vincent Aldan of the CNMI House said, "To the public, you have every right as a citizen of the CNMI to exercise your right to file a taxpayer lawsuit should anybody in the government are not willing to do their job in accordance with the law."

Representative Vincent Aldan, who chairs the House committee on public utilities, fed up -- looking straight into our camera encouraging residents to take action at a Commonwealth Utilities Corporation board meeting Thursday. The lawmaker has called for CUC to finally collect millions of dollars of unpaid utilities from the government amid stipulated orders.

The call comes as acting executive director Chretien Voerg resigned just days after another acting executive director Dallas Peavey was fired. Chief of Administration Bettina Terlaje is filling the role temporarily. 

Bettina G. Terlaje, Acting CUC Exec. Director, said, "I have been the right hand of the director for the longest time so basically is it just stepping it up a notch and making sure that everything that is priority that needs ot get moving on gets addressed. And I think we have good employees here."

The board also electing its new leadership. Janice Tenorio officially elected as chair. She responds to Aldan's call for a lawsuit. 

Janice Tenorio, Chair, CUC Board of Directors, said, "Well, I have nothing to say. That is everyone's prerogative and I respect everyone's decision. It is unfortunate that people had to resign, that is beyond our control. We are trying our best to fill that position. Unfortunately, CUC is an agency that requires specialized individuals."

Tenorio says that the disconnection notices for May sent to the Commonwealth's only hospital and Dept. of Public Works for overdue payments is still under review. Meanwhile, a joint Senate Committee is attempting to hold a meeting about the matter with agency heads on Friday.