Maria Canton and Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 20/00) - Paul Quassa has been conditionally reinstated as the president of Nunavut Tunngavik.
Delegates to NTI's annual meeting in Arviat voted Saturday on the conditions that will allow him to return Jan.31, 2001.
Suspended with pay Oct. 31 after financial records indicated he owed more than $35,000 on his corporate credit card, Quassa must repay all outstanding debts to NTI.
Quassa will not be paid for the duration of his suspension. If reinstated, any future spending by Quassa must comply with NTI's bylaws and policies.
NTI vice-president James Eetoolook will continue as acting president Jan.31.
If Quassa does not repay all of the money by that date, he will automatically be removed from the position.
Quassa went before the delegates in Arviat on Friday to explain how he racked up the credit card debt since winning the election for NTI president last December.
The decision to conditionally reinstate Quassa required support from at least 75 per cent of the representatives of each region.
This is the second time Quassa has been in hot water as president. He was removed as president in 1993, but re-elected to office last December.
