Flashback December 01, 1999-2002

Budget deliberation resumes[/B]

The House Ways and Means Committee resumed yesterday its deliberation on the FY 2000 budget package, more than two months after it deferred passage of the proposal due to disagreement on how to divide the shrinking cash resources of the government.

The panel hopes to complete the task by middle of this month before the Legislature goes into sine die and after members iron out differences, such as the level of appropriation to be given to each department or agency.

Racketeering charges were filed against two japanese nationals and a Japanese firm for alleged fraud and embezzlement of funds in connection with the development of Coral Ocean Point, a hotel and golf course in the southern part of Saipan.

Named respondents in the civil suit filed by lawyer James Grizzard based on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act were Kiyoshige Terada, chairman of the board of directors; Minoru Imai, president; and Japanese firm Hyakumata Kabushiki Kaisha.

According to the complaint, Mr. Terada, Mr. Grizzard and Mr. Imai established Suwaso Inc. in 1985 for the development of COP. Mr. Grizzard owns 10 percent of the shares of the company.

Democrats hold primary[/B]

Democrats are appealing to more than 12,000 voters on Saipan to go out and vote in the open primary tomorrow to decide who will be the party’s official candidate to the mayoralty election next year on the island.

Rep. Antonio Muna Camacho and former Rep. Juan Borja Tudela are seeking its endorsement to run for Saipan mayor in the November 2001 polls.

This is the first time ever that Democrats are conducting a primary ahead of an election, according to party chair, former Gov. Carlos S. Camacho.

The two candidates in tomorrow’s primary have asked support from the people to give them the mandate to address the critical needs on Saipan.

“We’ve been working hard,” said Rep. Antonio M. Camacho in a separate interview yesterday. “People may not come out and vote because this is just a primary, but we are asking them to exercise their right.”

He expressed confidence of winning the two-way race, citing his platform of helping the people of Saipan as his main priority once elected into office.

NMI gears up for homeland security[/B]

Local agencies are gearing up for the gradual implementation of the Homeland Security Act, with the Emergency Management Office and the Department of Public Health-among others-leading the local preparedness efforts.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said Friday that the EMO is in the process of procuring hazardous material suits and respirators, while the health department has already begun emergency response preparations.

Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider affirmed that the DPH has initiated bioterrorism prevention programs, following the September 11 attacks against the U.S. in 2001.

It could have been the “entrance” of the year: Ultraman coming out of a door following a series of firecracker explosions immediately after Gov. Juan N. Babauta finished delivering his speech outside the Hollywood Theaters in San Jose Friday morning.

Yes, Ultraman, one of Japan’s most popular superheroes who battled out with gigantic monsters that threatened to ruin the world, was on Saipan.

Not only did Ultraman received a warm island-style welcome from the Commonwealth government’s senior officials, the superhero also received a huge wooden key, which, according to Gov. Babauta, symbolizes that the Commonwealth’s doors are always open for Ultraman and his creators.