Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Monday, January 14, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 14, 2013

Jan. 14, 2002

45 houses turned over to new owners

The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation on Friday turned over 45 housing units in Tottoville to their new owners, following years of planning and construction marred with financial constraints. NMHC board chair Juan S. Tenorio led the turnover ceremonies, as he welcomed the new homeowners to their new residence in Koblerville, which was contracted by the NMHC to the Telesource CNMI, Inc. and the SSFM Saipan, Inc. Fr. Joseph Billoti of the Koblerville Parish was also present during Friday's soft opening to bless the new residential subdivision.

CRMO may reconsider sanctions vs DPW

The Coastal Resources Management Office issued Friday a monetary fine against the Department of Public Works for failure to remove the hazardous waste near the Tanapag shoreline, but CRMO acting administrator Joaquin Salas said he may reconsider the enforcement action once the department makes any progress this week. "If by next week I see there's action and progress... I'm willing to sit down and discuss my enforcement action further with the acting Secretary of Public Works," Salas said in an interview Friday. Salas received a letter from Public Works Acting Secretary Joseph P. Rosario on that day, requesting for the reconsideration of the CRMO's notice of violation and penalty against the department that carried a $10,000 fine.

Jan. 14, 2003

Ada: Leaders should take the first cut

Elected leaders should be an example to government employees and take the lead in the proposed wage cuts by giving up a portion of their annual salaries first, according to Rep. Martin B. Ada. Ada went as far as pledging $100 to $300 of his $39,300-annual salary as a House Representative in order to contribute to the government’s cost-saving agenda. “I’m willing to cut my salary down from what I am supposed to be receiving. My genuine proposal is to start with the government leaders and then we take it from there. Later, we can ask the people if they are willing to sacrifice a little, but based also on their income,” said the Saipan congressman.

Many PSS staff stay with GHLI

Majority of the Public School System personnel have chosen to stick with the government’s Group Health Life and Insurance despite apprehension of possible delay in medical services for lack of funding. This came amid reports that only about 100 PSS staff shifted to private insurance companies, following the financial mess involving the government’s insurance program. PSS finance director Richard Waldo said more PSS personnel decided not to change insurance providers for economic reasons. “Employees are a little nervous but they stick with GHLI. They know that private insurance is more expensive.”

Jan. 14, 2005

MVA now behind in paying its vendors

The Marianas Visitors Authority is now delayed in its payments to its marketing offices, as the agency continues to await some $2.4 million of its budget from the Department of Finance. MVA managing director Vicky Benavente reported that Finance has yet to disburse almost $2 million of MVA’s appropriation for the current fiscal year and some $480,000 from fiscal year 2004, which ended on Sept. 30. As a result MVA now has accounts with vendors that are outstanding for 30 to 60 days, said Benavente, who also expressed confidence that “the money will be coming to MVA in the next couple of months.” She added that the situation is nothing new to MVA and its vendors, as the agency has been operating under this system for the past six years.

Senate mulls restaging Brown’s confirmation

The Senate is inclined to hold a session on Rota to officially put on record the confirmation of Attorney General Pamela Brown. Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano said that he discussed such possibility with deputy attorney general Clyde Lemons Wednesday. The official went to Adriano’s office Wednesday to talk about the lack of Senate record on Brown’s confirmation in November 2003. Adriano denied that Lemons served him a subpoena. “He came to my office and we talked about that [subpoena] but it’s not necessary at this time,” the senator said. Senate legal counsel Michael Ernest, in a separate interview, also said that no member of the Senate would be subpoenaed over the issue.