SAIPAN — Artist advocate Rowina Ogo told the House Standing Committee on Tourism on Tuesday that CNMI artists and cultural practitioners remain unpaid for completed grant-funded work, calling for transparency and action on grants extended through a program she said has been plagued by delays and inconsistent communication.
Speaking on behalf of artists she said entrusted her to help them navigate the program’s GoSmart portal, Ogo said many completed their projects and fulfilled their obligations but are still waiting on payment. She said the artists she represents are collectively owed more than $40,000.
Ogo said she was made aware that delays involved projects tied to the Miss Northern Marianas Descent pageant, connected to her applications and to domain issues, and that the amount owed was put at approximately $19,992. She disputed that figure, saying the pageant projects alone exceeded $30,000 in completed work.
She said her own portal access issue was resolved in March 2026, citing documentation dated March 12 that outlined required corrective actions she said she completed by March 15, after which she was informed her domain had been approved. Ogo questioned why projects completed after hers were processed and paid while earlier ones remained unresolved.
Ogo said she had sought clarification since February through emails, walk-ins and correspondence with DCCA Secretary Frank Rabauliman, and had also raised concerns with the Governor, Sen. Corina Magofna and Rep. Julie Ogo. She said she received an email from Rabauliman suggesting work completed before the typhoon be set aside while the office focused on helping others, a message she said was difficult to accept given that some artists lost their homes or suffered significant damage in the storm.
She said her testimony was not about blaming individuals but about acknowledging that something is not working and needs attention, and expressed hope the hearing would lead to improvements that restore trust in the program. “I did my part. The artists did their part. The documentation exists. The projects were completed,” she said. “The only question that remains is: When will the system do its part?”