Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 28, 2013

Jan. 28, 2000

Rota mayor turns to FAA for airport expansion

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona is asking immediate assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration for the improvement and rehabilitation of the island's international airport runway and facilities. In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Acting Manager for Airports District Office Daniel Matsumoto, Mr. Manglona stressed the need to improve and upgrade runway and terminal facilities of the Rota International Airport. "The island of Rota is now ready to embark into a major tourist destination. However, the impediment of our success is because of the port and desperate condition of our airport runway and facilities," he told Mr. Matsumoto.

Increase in seaport revenues seen

Consistent growth in Saipan's apparel manufacturing industry is expected to give the revenue-generating capabilities of the Commonwealth Ports Authority's harbor operations a major push, according to financial experts. Studies commissioned by the ports authority in efforts to secure seaport bond rating projected consistent increase in the marine division's revenue until 2002. The increase in the seaport operating revenues, expected to hit over $5 million in 2002, will be fueled by development in the local garment manufacturing industry. This figure is nearly 25 percent higher than the FY 1998 tally of $4.3 million.

Jan. 28, 2002

Medical board opposes foreign licensure bill

In an effort to block the passage into law of a legislative measure that seeks to allow licensure of foreign medical practitioners in the CNMI, the Medical Profession Licensing Board made a strong opposition against it before Gov. Juan N. Babauta, who has the power to veto the bill. House Bill 12-355, also known as the Foreign Doctors Licensure Act, was reportedly passed by both chambers of the Legislature, based on the information received by the MPLB. Saying that such a measure would diminish the competence of medical practice in the Commonwealth if it becomes a law, the MPLB wrote a letter to Babauta stating its position on the issue, which was reached after a special board meeting last week.

CJPA has $500K in US grants

More than half-a-million dollars in federal grant funds are now available for application by agencies that are directly involved in the rehabilitation of crime victims, juvenile delinquents and drug users. The Criminal Justice Planning Agency disclosed that federal funds amo unting to $562,810 are now available for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Challenge Activity E and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT). The CJPA is the Commonwealth’s state administering agency for these programs but the grants will be awarded by the NMI Commonwealth Supervisory Council for the Improvement of the Criminal justice System through a sub-grant process.

Jan. 28, 2004

’No complaint so far about fuel price hikes’

The Attorney General’s Office yesterday said it has not received any complaint from consumers regarding the recent increases in retail prices of petroleum products. Thus there is no sufficient basis yet to conduct an investigation, said Assistant Attorney General Brian Caldwell. He added, though, that the AGO would continue to monitor fuel prices in the CNMI. The AGO had recently announced joining the gas price-monitoring project by the Federal Trade Commission. Shell gas stations increased fuel prices by an average of seven cents per gallon since Jan. 14, the first hike in gas prices this year. Mobil gas stations followed suit by implementing an increase of an average of four cents a gallon. Sometime last week, Mobil again raised its prices by an average of three cents a gallon.

98 percent unliquidated funds on student travel

Records showed that 98 percent of travel advances made by Public School System students for Fiscal Years 2003-2004 have not been settled. A PSS finance office report showed that as of Jan. 13, 2004, only $12 or 2 percent of the total $835 in local funds that were spent on student travel has been settled. Student accounts include expenses for inter-island trips and various academic-related travels, including participation in academic contests. The students’ account registered a $648.32 balance in FY 2003. At present, the balance is set at $823.32.