Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday, September 28, 2012

Flashback - Sept. 2000-Sept. 2002

Sept. 28, 2000

Mayor wants Rota included in new carrier's route

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona is asking Australian carrier Micronesia Air to include the island in its flight schedule when it starts providing direct air transport service between Sydney and the Northern Marianas. “As you make application for route licenses, please be sure to put Rota in your route. Service Rota as well as Saipan and other CNMI islands. Rota waits with open and enthusiastic arms to embrace your new service,” said the mayor in a letter to Micronesia Air executive Rex Banks. Mr. Manglona said Rota's new airport terminal is one of the most attractive and most modern in the Northern Marianas, adding that plans are already underway to improve the facility's runway.

Teno leads campaign against breast cancer

Noting that CNMI women are at risk, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday signed proclamation declaring October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” on the islands. This is in conjunction with a nationwide campaign aimed at educating women about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. This year marks 15 years of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Because of the campaign, mammography use has substantially increased and breast cancer death rates have declined over the past few years, according to officials. To kick off the campaign in the Commonwealth, a walkathon will be held this Saturday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 10 a.m. starting at Kilili Beach.

Sept. 28, 2001

$27M in revenue shortfall feared

Best estimates made by the Department of Finance on the money it expects to collect in Fiscal Year 2002 place the expected revenue amount at only $206 million-$27 million short of the $233 million the government had originally submitted as its budget for the incoming fiscal year. “I met with the finance department just yesterday and it appears that we might only be able to make $206 million [in the new fiscal year],” Gov. Pedro P. Tendorio told reporters yesterday morning. This came even as the Senate was deliberating on the proposed $233-million Fiscal Year 2002 budget at the Northern Marianas College on Tinian. Expectations were high that the Senate would pass the bill yesterday.

OPA allowed to retain alien workers

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law the bill that would allow the Office of the Public Auditor to retain the services of nonresident workers beyond the period allowed for it under Public Law 10-4. House Bill 12-376, to be known hence as Public Law 12-65 or the Commonwealth Auditing Amendments Act of 2001, would also allow the OPA to hire 10 new interns and, at the same time, lift the cap on the salaries of non-U.S. certified public accountants. Tenorio said that Public Law 10-4 was originally intended for government agencies employing nonresident workers to implement a management intern program that would train locals who will eventually replace the nonresident employees.

Sept. 28, 2002

SCC backs retiree investment law

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has reiterated its support to the measure that seeks to make the CNMI the preferred choice for foreign retirement investment security, saying it gave the same support to a similar bill during the 11th Legislature. The Chamber restated its position regarding Public Law 11-60, in response to House Committee on U.S. and Foreign Affairs Chairman William S. Torres' comments that the private sector and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, in particular, “have yet to develop any real initiative on, and to push for, the promotion of the CNMI as an investment destination of choice vis-à-vis PL 11-60.”

Legislature's help sought for port expansion

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is seeking the assistance of the Legislature in connection with its request to get a piece of public land needed for the expansion of the Saipan Harbor. CPA officials led by Executive Director Carlos H. Salas and Board Chair Jose R. Lifoifoi met with several members of the CNMI House of Representatives Wednesday to discuss the importance of the property located between the U.S. Army Reserve compound and the Kaiser Cement Building in Lower Base. Salas explained that, with the negotiation with CSX Lines moving fast, the CPA is bent at moving forward in the procurement of the public land for its expansion project needed for additional container yard.