Saipan Tribune

Monday, May 20, 2013

Friday, January 11, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 11, 2013

Jan. 11, 2000

No decision yet on transfer of SBDC

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday refused to get involved into the brewing controversy over the closure of the Small Business Development Center from the Northern Marianas College, saying he is not aware of the ongoing FBI probe on its former director. He reiterated his earlier position of ensuring that federal funds granted by the U.S. Small Business Administration to the local program will be kept in the CNMI and whichever agency will handle its operations on the island. "Whatever the outcome of the investigation, I have no knowledge," Mr. Tenorio told reporters yesterday in an interview when sought for comment on the issue.

Teno eyes closer cooperation with new legislature

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio is mum on the move by the Senate to force acting Attorney General Maya B. Kara out of office, but he may have another plan in the offing to give in to pressures by lawmakers. He disclosed that he will meet with members of his Cabinet soon to discuss ways on how to work closely with members of the Legislature and the business community as he pledged at the inaugural session Monday. "We have to find a way to continue to exchange communications that need to be done in order for us to improve the [laws] we have now," Mr. Tenorio told reporters in an interview yesterday.

Jan. 11, 2001

Fund optimistic Legislature will bail out GHLIP

Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund board Chair Vicente Camacho yesterday said he is still optimistic that the Legislature will be able to bail out the Government's Health Insurance program of its more than $3 million debt. Mr. Camacho said he will meet with the House Committee on Health and Welfare to reiterate the financial assistance that they need to settle the debt with Honolulu-based Straub Clinic & Hospital and Queens Medical Center. The two health providers have been seeking payment from the NMIRF which handles the health insurance since last year. However, cash-strapped GHLI has not been able to settle its debt. "It is still our priority to settle the debt so we will meet with the House Committee to finally resolve this," said Mr. Camacho.

MVA seeks more funds from CIP

As part of its priority program for this fiscal year, the Marianas Visitors Authority will ask the Legislature to include the development of tourist sites in the list of Capital Improvement Projects, which the administration will undertake. MVA Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said he will ask the legislative leaders to provide the needed $8 million funding so that the tourism agency can begin planning for the improvement of tourist sites this year. "We need new tourist attractions to sell the islands and we cannot afford to sit back and wait for the visitors to come here," said Mr. Sablan. Improvement of tourist sites cover the three islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Jan. 11, 2002

NMI awarded $91K in food, shelter funds

The US government chose the Northern Marianas to receive $91,715 in federal funds to supplement the Commonwealth's food and shelter programs. The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Administration and consists of representatives from The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; United Jewish Communities; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the US; and the United Way of America, which will provide the administrative staff and function as fiscal agent. The Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country.

Teno bids adieu with anti-terror threat law

As his last official act of business, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said he will pass into law the bill that would make terroristic threatening a crime. In an interview with reporters yesterday morning, Tenorio said he will use the last day of his office to sign the proposed Terroristic Threatening Act, which he considers important, coming as it does on the heels of another fake bomb threat on Tinian. “With my last day in office, I intend to sign the measure because this is very important. I will sign it sometime this afternoon or tomorrow morning,” said Tenorio. The Governor related that, only last Wednesday, another fake bomb threat was received by authorities on Tinian.