Flashback October 22, 1999-2002

Aranza: No more political campaign[/B]

Office of Insular Affairs Director Danny Aranza yesterday ended a two-day visit to the CNMI, acknowledging the “uphill battle” facing his efforts to restore ties with island leaders amid the ongoing congressional probe into the conduct of some of its officials.

He said, however, he would welcome sanctions from Congress or any investigating panel against any OIA officials found guilty of alleged on-the-job political campaign that used CNMI issues as weapon against the island’s Republican supporters in Washington.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” Aranza said at a news conference hours before his departure for Guam. “We don’t condone wrongdoing and if (it) is proven, clearly the consequence will have to be paid and that will be appropriate.”

Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram yesterday dismissed charges of incompetence leveled by inmates against officials of the Division of Corrections, saying they were qualified to run the prison.

Two petitions have been circulated seeking the ouster or transfer of DOC Director Greg T. Castro, Assistant Chief Juan Ayuyu and Capt. Johannes Ngiraibuuch whom the prisoners said were unfit for the job.

“I will not allow the inmates to dictate to me as to who we are going to hire to run the place. If I will let the prisoners dictate to me how I’m going to run the prison, then we might as well get rid of the corrections staff,” said Ingram.

Deadline for absentee voters extended[/B]

With 15 days left before the general election, the House of Representatives acted swiftly in passing a bill that would extend the period for receiving absentee votes from seven days to 14 days.

House Bill 12-421 now goes to the upper chamber, where Senate President Paul A. Manglona also promised swift action on the measure so it would be passed into law before the November 3 elections. Earlier reports had it that Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has already expressed willingness to sign the measure into law.

A mixed gaggle of anxious parents, indulgent officials and curious onlookers burst into cheers and a storm of clapping, soon after the 23 new members of the 4th Youth Congress took their “oaths of office” Saturday morning at the lower house chamber.

An estimated 200 persons crowded inside the House of Representatives-including the hallways-to witness the inauguration of the new Youth Congress, whose members were either nervous, tearful, or terribly formal.

Dressed in their Sunday best, all Youth Congress members were clad in somber gray colors, with the boys in suits and ties and the girls in formal gowns. All wore mwar-mwars and most had leis around their necks.

Babauta eyes cuts in govt cars[/B]

As the NMI government continues to grapple with falling revenues and a soft domestic economy, the Babauta administration is reviewing its policy on government-leased vehicles, with a view toward cutting this expenditure down to size.

In line with this, Gov. Juan N. Babauta has directed an inventory of all government-leased vehicles to give the administration a complete picture of where they can make effective cuts that would contain this particular drain on government coffers.

“I have asked for a listing of all the government vehicles that are under lease. We’re spending millions of dollars on government-leased vehicles and I just wanted to have an inventory-a clear picture-of how much is out there in terms of government vehicles so we can begin to streamline and reduce costs, essentially cutting back on this area of expenditures,” said Babauta.