Saipan Tribune

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 25, 2013

Jan. 25, 2000

Loans eyed to augment government scholarship

The administration has completed drafting a proposal that will set in place a new scheme to extend adequate financial assistance to local college students without putting much pressure on the depleting public coffers. The proposal is now up for review by officials of the Public School System and the Northern Marianas College, as well as members of the 12th CNMI Legislature. Forced by diminishing resources, the government has been exploring alternative ways to continue providing local college students with financial assistance while assuring that funding for other essential programs remain in place.

Demapan seeks dismissal of illegal gambling charges

Former Senate President Juan S. Demapan, Chinese businessman Ping Yin Cheung and six others yesterday asked the Superior Court to dismiss the criminal case filed against them claiming that the CNMI does not have a lawfully appointed Attorney General to file and prosecute any charges against them. In a motion filed through their lawyer Joseph Aldan Arriola, the eight who have been accused of committing illegal gambling by the AGO said the case filed against them must be dismissed on grounds that it violated the CNMI Constitution. According to Mr. Arriola, the AGO could not bring any charges against these defendants because the CNMI Constitution requires than an Attorney General must be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Jan. 25, 2001

Students told: Be active on environmental issues

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources yesterday urged students of Mount Carmel School to actively participate in the agency's effort to prevent the continued reproduction of brown tree snakes on the island. Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Joaquin Tenorio disclosed the department has been actively collaborating with various government agencies on the island in putting up brown tree snake traps in several delicate areas. Aside from forested places, the DLNR has also set up traps in several seaports, airports and other areas where brown tree snakes normally and easily thrive. Mr. Tenorio asked the students to refrain from tampering with the brown tree snake traps which were set up at the park and other tourist sites to effectively implement the program.

Private firms’ help eyed to identify needed labor

The Public School System will tap the assistance of various private and public agencies on the island to identify the needed labor force in hopes to sustain the growing demands of the Commonwealth. Aside from possible collaborative effort with these businesses, the school system is also looking into the effective implementation of on-the-job training program to help students gain first-hand work experiences. Acting Associate Commissioner on Secondary Education Rita A. Sablan discussed these probabilities following the recently conducted Vocational Education Training.

Jan. 25, 2002

Bill seeks to pay land compensation claims

As he had promised in his inauguration speech, House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao has revived legislative efforts that would allow the CNMI government to borrow $40 million to pay off all outstanding land compensation claims. Attao has pre-filed House Bill 13-001, which seeks to authorize the Division of Public Lands to borrow $40 million, to be used for the retirement of land compensation claims against the Commonwealth. The bill’s number indicates that it was the very first bill introduced in the 13th House of Representatives. Bills of a similar nature had been introduced in earlier Legislatures but they all failed to pass into law.

CPA seeks FAA help on security plan

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is seeking the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration in implementing its 2002 Airport Security Plan to ensure proper compliance with the federally-mandated safety standards. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas asked the federal agency to perform a site survey of the Saipan International Airport terminal area where the agency plans to install the Explosive Detection System. Salas said the site survey will help the ports authority to expeditiously prepare plans for the 100 percent check-in baggage inspection and to comply with the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was recently signed into law by President George W. Bush.