Flashback May 12, 1999-2003

[B]May 12, 1999

Telesource eyes Dynasty’s vessels[/B]

In what appears to be a move to strengthen its business interest in the Northern Marianas, Telesource CNMI Inc. is planning to acquire two ferry boats from Tinian Shipping Company Inc. amid deepening financial troubles gripping the shipping firm. The two ferry boats is owned by Tinian Shipping, a subsidiary of Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investment Ltd. which operates the cash-strapped Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

[B]Legislature eyes lease extension for SNM san BPL nod[/B]

In a move that may anger public lands officials, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes yesterday raised the possibility for the Legislature to go ahead with the plan to extend the lease of the financially-troubled Rota Resort and Country Club. Legal counsels for the Legislature have recommended voting on the resort’s request for an extension even without going through the public lands board in light of the move made by lawmakers two years ago, according to the senator.

[B]Plan will save Rota Resort from closure[/B]

The chair of the House Natural Resources Committee yesterday defended a decision by legislators to entertain the appeal for 15-year lease extension from Rota Resort and Country Club, saying it is intended to bail out the company from its current financial troubles. Rep. Manuel A. Tenorio threw support behind a proposed meeting between the Legislature, the Board of Public Lands and SNM Corporation, the resort’s owner, in an attempt to seek solution on the issue.

[B]May 12, 2000

Legal opinion backs abortion[/B]

The CNMI government is now faced with a dilemma on how to deal with the abortion issue on the island in light of a legal opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office which says that any woman may legally obtain an abortion in the Northern Marianas. The legal opinion was crafted in 1995 but resurfaced after discussion on abortion was resurrected in the House of Representatives early this week that has drawn strong opposition from the Catholic church.

[B]Pepero: I will respect the party’s decision[/B]

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, who is eyeing the Republican nomination for next year’s gubernatorial elections, has underscored the need to keep the party’s unity after the GOP primary to ensure victory in the polls. He pledged to throw his support behind whoever the party chooses as its standard bearer at the 2001 elections, saying that he also expects Republican opponents to back his candidacy if and when he wins in the primary.

[B]Public warned against fake health inspectors[/B]

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez yesterday cautioned businesses against impostors posing as health inspectors who try to collect money from various hotels and restaurants. The warning came after the Department of Public health received complaints about the alleged Bureau of Environmental Health inspectors demanding payment during their visit.

[B]May 12, 2003

PSS admits shortcomings on student performance[/B]

Public School System officials have admitted to the Legislature their shortcomings in adequately equipping high school students for a college education. “We raised the issue with PSS and they are aware of the situation and they themselves admitted that some of the students who graduate from high school are not as prepared as they would like them to be,” said Rep. Daniel Quitugua.

[B]WHO: No travel restrictions vs Philippines[/B]

The World Health Organization has clarified that it does not recommend any travel restrictions to Manila even as the Philippine government has reportedly filed a formal protest with the Geneva-based organization for alleged misclassification of the country as having “medium level” SARS transmission-the same category as Canada and Singapore-as of Friday. In its latest advisory, WHO acknowledged that cluster of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome cases in Manila “have been well-contained.”