Dr. Mariana Turner is the only veterinarian consistently serving the Northern Mariana Islands as a contractor for the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources — and she has not been paid for any of her services provided this year.
“Effective immediately, I will be suspending further services to DLNR and the Commonwealth government until these matters are resolved,” Dr. Turner wrote to CNMI DLNR Secretary Sylvan Igisomar.
She said that despite the absence of payment, she has continued to provide services in good faith due to the dire needs across the CNMI, which are only amplified by the impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
She is requesting that all outstanding invoices are processed and paid in full and a fully executed contract is finalized and provided.
“I remain concerned about the long-term operational risks associated with the continued absence of dedicated veterinary oversight within the Commonwealth. Many of the activities supported through this contract involve animal disease prevention, import and export compliance, disaster response coordination, zoonotic disease mitigation, animal welfare oversight, and livestock health support. Prolonged gaps in veterinary services may increase regulatory, public health, animal welfare, and agricultural risks for the Commonwealth,” she wrote.
She added, “I appreciate the opportunity to have supported these efforts over the past two years and remain willing to discuss future support once contract and payment issues have been resolved.”
When asked for comment, Saipan Humane Society clinic director Ruby Ma said, “We have been receiving a very high volume of daily requests to assist with health certificates documents. These are required to travel and must be given by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed (stamped and approved) by the CNMI veterinarian.”
She said the clinic is very worried about the inability to access USDA accreditation and endorsement.
“Without these things, people will not be able to obtain the necessary documents for pet travel. People often get mad at us because of this, but there is nothing we can do except hope that this changes soon,” Ma explained.
Marianas Press has reached out to Secretary Igisomar for comment.
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