Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Flashback - Oct. 18, 1999-2001

Oct. 18, 1999

Teno, Lang meet over $12M lawsuit

Former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio's appeal for assistance in connection with a court ruling on a taxpayers' lawsuit that ordered him to pay $12.4 million was denied by the current administration following his meeting last Friday with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. The former governor objected to the interpretation of the Attorney General's Office of an existing law on public employee legal defense and indemnification, saying it was wrong. "According to them, and I don't agree with them, that because of this act, the government cannot pay for my defense anymore so they are using this to deny me for paying those things," he said in an interview over the weekend.

PCB contamination spreads to Lower Base

A recent study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revealed that the contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has spread to the Lower Base area close to the cemetery. Due to these findings, the Division of Environmental Quality and representatives from the various federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry as well as the U.S. Army Corps will discuss the issue of toxicology and human health risks of PCBs. "We will wait for the federal government's answers because even the clean up will depend on the results of the public meeting," said DEQ Director Ike Cabrera.

Oct. 18, 2000

Supreme Court chides OAG

The Supreme Court yesterday warned the Office of the Attorney General that it will impose appropriate sanctions if the AGO continues to represent private parties without first asking permission from the high tribunal. In a decision handed down by Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan, Associate Justice Alexandro C. Castro and Justice Pro Tem Timothy H. Bellas, the high court chided the AGO when it acted as counsel to private parties in its interest to clarify the interpretation of a statute. The high court's decision stemmed from an appeal filed by the Pacific Saipan Technical Contractors on an administrative order issued by Labor Secretary Mark Zachares ordering the company to pay wages to nonresident workers Ataur Rahman and Abdul Wahad.

Education tax credit gets boost from private schools

A proposed legislation seeking to grant tuition tax credit to elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth has drawn support from private schools, citing its advantages to both educational institutions and parents in the Northern Marianas. Authored by Rep. William S. Torres, the Education Tuition Tax Credit proposal was envisioned to provide "qualified" schools incentives for their contributions to uplift the quality of education in the Commonwealth. During a public hearing held at the House chamber yesterday, private school officials recognized the proposed legislation's merits, noting that it would enable CNMI parents to place their children on a school they think would best provide the students' educational needs.

Oct. 18, 2001

Verizon urged to confer with telecom panel

Despite reports that Verizon Pacifica will soon be pulling up stakes from the CNMI, Senate President Paul A. Manglona still insists that the telecommunications giant should still sit down with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission to iron out any perceived kinks in Public Law 12-39. "We’re saying that they [Verizon] should sit down with Commission. They should work with Commission in going over Public Law 12-39-provision by provision, section by section-because we’re not going to repeal this thing,” said Manglona. The Senate President promised that the Senate will support whatever Verizon and the Commission agree on.

Fitial hosts NMI students at UOG

House Speaker and Covenant Party gubernatorial candidate Benigno R. Fitial last week hosted a luncheon on Guam in honor of CNMI students who are studying at the University of Guam. The luncheon, which was held at the Ladera Towers near the UOG campus, was attended by some 35 students who participated in a candid discussion of Commonwealth issues with the Speaker. The students were impressed with Fitial’s knowledge of the pressing issues and his plans for the youth of the NMI. The UOG group took an active part in the question and answer session wherein they raised questions and concerns about education, scholarships and the future of the Commonwealth.