Saipan Tribune

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Monday, January 21, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 21, 2013

Jan. 21, 1999

CPA board OKs budget supplement

The Commonwealth Ports Authority board has approved a supplemental budget amounting to $66,264 to carry out capital improvement projects on Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Of this, some $42,264 will go to the airport while $24,000 will go to the seaport. This include additional funding for the expansion of West Tinian Airport amounting to $33,822. The ports authority had earlier approved a total of $11.10 million budget for fiscal year 1999. This include an appropriation of some $9.73 million for the airport operation, an 11 percent decline over the previous year. At least 58 percent of the airport budget goes to salaries and wages of personnel.

Pickets break up on promise of jobs

Nine Chinese workers picketing in front of the Administration Building finally agreed to disperse yesterday after immigration and labor officials promised to assist them in finding new jobs during a meeting mediated by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. The workers, mostly farmers from mainland China, trooped the Capitol Hill Monday just after the governor met with President Clinton's special representative, Edward Cohen, to dramatize their plight for non-payment of wages by their employer on Tinian. Immigration and labor officials spoke to the workers through an interpreter for more than an hour explaining that their case is being looked into and that they will be assisted in finding new employers for temporary work.

Jan. 21, 2000

Underground businesses under siege

In increased efforts to replenish depleting coffers and safeguard public safety, the government has stepped up moves against businesses in the CNMI that are operating without proper permit from the commerce department. The move came after Commonwealth Development Authority Chair John S. Tenorio disclosed that unlicensed businesses in the Northern Marianas are causing the government millions of dollars in uncollected taxes. Mr. Tenorio pointed out that the government is likely to see more revenues filling up the public coffers had there been strict monitoring and documentation of all business transactions in the islands.

UOG inks pact with NMC to offer business courses

The University of Guam has agreed to offer its business administration courses on Saipan through the facility of the Northern Marianas College. Since last week, NMC began offering Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with accounting major, according to continuing education Dean Edward Camacho. The college has also started extending courses on managerial communications, management of organization, basic business finance and applied statistics. The agreement was reached following over six months of negotiations between officials of the University of Guam and the Northern Marianas College.

Jan. 21, 2002

Babauta signs first bill into law

The first bill signed into law by Gov. Juan N. Babauta since his inception into office occurred Friday during the inaugural ceremonies on Tinian. Babauta signed Senate Bill 12-104, authored by Senate floor leader Joaquin G. Adriano, during Tinian's inaugural ceremonies on Friday. It is the first bill Babauta signed into law since assuming office. Senate Bill 12-104, now Public Law No. 12-84, requires the use of safety helmets for operators and passengers of bicycles, human power vehicles, all terrain vehicles and mopeds for those under the age of 18 on Tinian. Babauta expressed that he was pleased to "make history" by signing his first bill into law on Tinian, which was authored by a senator from Tinian.

’Road works better left to mayors’

In an expression of support for the administration of Saipan Mayor Juan Borja Tudela, House Rep. William S. Torres said the local government should be empowered to take full responsibility over the repair of secondary roads, which it currently shares with the Department of Public Works. Torres said this in an interview at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, where he attended Tudela's inaugural ball Saturday night. "We would like the mayor to assume responsibility for the repair of secondary roads," Torres said. "At the present time, this responsibility is divided into the mayor and the [Department of] Public Works. We would like the mayor to assume the entire responsibility."