Flashback August 01, 2000

[B]August 01, 2000

CUC renews plea for $12M unpaid govt bills[/B]

Because of its impact on future plans and infrastructure projects, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has pressed anew its effort to collect over $12 million owed by the government in unpaid utility bills. Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero wrote a letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio as recent as two weeks ago, reiterating the need to settle the debt through a payment schedule offered months ago by the government-owned corporation.

[B]OIA official steps in to fast-track THS project[/B]

An Office of Insular Affairs official met yesterday with members of the Board of Education to discuss a possible compromise between the Public School System and Guerrero Brothers Inc., the project contractor for the long-delayed Tinian High School project. The move has been initiated to put an end to the long-standing battle between PSS and GBI and finally expedite the OIA-funded undertaking. The project has been under OIA probe since GBI stopped its construction in 1996.

[B]PREL to develop experts on information technology[/B]

The Pacific Resources for Education and Learning has disclosed plans to address the region’s ineptitude in the field of information technology, one which could benefit the CNMI and the rest of the Pacific through a federally-subsidized IT professional development program. Pacific educators, during last week’s 17th Pacific Educational Conference held in Palau, raised concerns that Pacific island entities compared to other regions lag behind in the IT area.

[B]August 01, 2001

Missing Chinese feared dead[/B]

Authorities decided to call off the rescue operations to locate the three Chinese nationals who remain missing after their boat capsized off Tinian Sunday, raising fears that the victims may already be dead. The decision came as government operatives strongly suspect that the Chinese nationals are part of human smuggling operations even if the Department of Labor and Immigration’s head office on Saipan did not confirm the aliens’ immigration status in the CNMI.

[B]Higher PSS funding hangs by a thread[/B]

With the killer amendments attached to it by the Senate, the initiative that would have increased the budget of the Public School System by 10 percent has virtually zero chances now of being passed into law. This developed after House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial said that the House of Representatives has no plans of touching House Legislative Initiative 12-001 due to the defective amendments made on the initiative.

[B]Health expert warns vs airborne diseases[/B]

Health experts are bracing for a wave of airborne diseases expected to hit the islands this year, known to prey on both adults and children. Two months into the flu season, the health department is keeping a close eye on two common illnesses anticipated to affect island residents, namely; Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. “Influenza is probably brought over by tourists, sick passengers who hop on the plane bring it here,” said Department of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Richard Brostrom.

[B]August 01, 2002

Govt may cut work hours[/B]

The Babauta administration is looking at possibly reducing the work hours of government personnel, as it struggles to contain an $18-million budget deficit that is feared to even escalate if appropriate measures are not undertaken. The bulk of the projected deficit at the end of the fiscal year comes from the Department of Public Health. Acting Public Health Secretary Pete Untalan said the department’s deficit is inevitable and is expected to reach $9.4 million, as it still needs to buy medicines and other medical supplies.

[B]House sets 10 pre-conditions for govt[/B]

The House of Representatives can only allow the Babauta administration to spend beyond the $193 million level set for this fiscal year if it bites the bullet and implements cost-cutting measures that would show proof it is practicing due diligence. During Monday’s meeting between Gov. Juan N. Babauta and the lower chamber, House leaders outlined 10 courses of action that the administration may take to prove due diligence in its financial actions.