Flashback November 05, 2001-2002

GOP in landslide victory[/B]

GOP gubernatorial tandem Juan N. Babauta and Diego T. Benavente led the Republican Party to a landslide victory in Saturday’s general election.

The BB tandem grabbed 42.8 percent of the total votes cast, followed by Covenant Party’s Benigno R. Fitial and Rita H. Inos with 2,963 votes or 24.4 percent of the overall votes.

Unofficial election results showed that Babauta and Benavente took a landslide victory in Election District 1 with 1,924 votes; Election District 2 with 297 votes; Election District 3 with 1,023 votes; Election District 4 with 989 votes; Election District 5 with 409 votes; Election District 6 with 498 votes; and Northern Island District with 54 votes.

Overall, the BB team got 5,194 votes, which is 2,231 votes higher than what the Fitial-Inos tandem received.

Democratic Party’s bet Jesse Borja and Brigid Ichihara got 2,117 votes or 17.5 percent of the total votes cast. The team of Reform Party’s Froilan S. Tenorio and Dave C. Sablan landed fourth with 1,368 votes or 11.3 percent of the 12,124 votes cast.

Covenant Party standard-bearer Benigno R. Fitial offered full assistance to Governor-elect Juan N. Babauta in working for the full recovery of the CNMI economy.

This, as Reform Party gubernatorial candidates Froilan Tenorio and Dave Sablan said, in an interview immediately after they cast their votes, that they will accept whatever the outcome of the elections may be.

Meanwhile, upon learning Babauta’s victory, Fitial said that although he is disappointed with the results, he has no regrets, noting that the campaign ended just as it started — with a vision and hope for a better CNMI.

“I congratulate Juan Babauta for a hard fought victory. During the course of this election, I know all of the candidates worked very hard for causes in which we believe deeply,” said Fitial.

“I formally offer my concession. I am very proud of my career as a public servant. As a legislator, as the Speaker and as a private citizen, I always strive to serve the best interests of the people and will continue to do so” Fitial said.

Experts to discuss NMI’s fuel situation
[/B] The House Committee on Commerce has invited on- and off-island gasoline experts to discuss with the House of Representatives the CNMI’s fuel situation, according to committee chair Rep. Andrew S. Salas.

The commerce committee has tapped the expertise of Pacific Petroleum CEO Richard Reddy, who is reportedly bringing to Saipan in mid-November an executive of a major oil supplier.

“This person [Reddy] has an abundance of gasoline experience. I have scheduled him to meet with the House. He’s bringing in a major supplier of gasoline to the area. We’re going to meet with the Governor and the Senate,” said Salas.

The meeting is scheduled for November 15 and 17.

This comes amid expressed dissatisfaction from the commerce committee as regards the exorbitant gas prices offered to CNMI consumers.

The committee, which hosted a public hearing on the proposed Fairness in Gasoline Prices Act of 2002 last September, is pushing oil giants Mobil and Shell to offer self-service gas stations in the CNMI, in a bid to lower local gas prices.

The Rota and Tinian Legislative Delegations are seeking to streamline intra-CNMI airport inspections, with a proposal that passengers entering the Commonwealth be subjected to general inspection only at their final island destination.

Sen. Joaquin Adriano, chairman of the Tinian Legislative Delegation, has requested Gov. Juan N. Babauta to review the current policy requiring all passengers arriving at the Rota airport-transiting from Guam-to deplane and pass through Immigration, Customs and Quarantine prior to their final destination: either Tinian or Saipan.