The government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands is facing the threat of utility disconnections because of its failure to make due payments.
In his recommendation to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp Board of Directors, its acting comptroller, Ed Williams, says there is a need to get the government back on a regular payment schedule, even if it means disconnections.
The Saipan Tribune reports that the government owes the CUC about 17-point-5 million US dollars.
Mr Williams says the government has not made regular payments to it since June 2002.
The government had earlier said it would pay the the company a minimum of 800-thousand dollars a month.
