Flashback August 02, 1999-2001

Federal takeover hearing postponed
[/B] It was the extra expense in traveling to Washington which the business sector wanted to avoid but it happened just the same when the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee postponed at the last minute the scheduled Aug. 3 CNMI oversight hearing. Instead, the Senate hearing will be held in the same week that the House Resources Committee, chaired by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), will conduct its investigation scheduled for Sept. 16, sources from the administration said yesterday.

Visitor arrivals slid two percent for the month of June as it totaled 38,855 compared to the same month of 1998. According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals from Japan dropped five percent mainly due to the reduction in airline seat capacity to the CNMI.

Saying the government does not have enough resources to pay additional benefits to its employees, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has junked a legislation that would make hazard pay mandatory for personnel exposed to occupational safety and health risks. The measure offered by House Vice Speaker Jesus T. Attao was vetoed due to several concerns which were not addressed by legislators despite having a similar legislation put forward to the Office of the Governor in the past.

Revamp CUC—Guerrero[/B]

Chronic problems are plaguing the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, affecting water and power distribution and even customer services to the community, according to Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero. He called for support from lawmakers and administration officials to help the government-owned utility firm hurdle what he described as challenges facing the CUC board.

Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Jack Tenorio has assured the Federated States of Micronesia government the CNMI will immediately look into easing its Quarantine restriction order on food items exported out of FSM states unaffected by the recent vibrio cholera outbreak. FSM officials, during a formal dialogue between CNMI and Guam public health and environment officials last week, has disclosed that its own quarantine division has taken extra steps to beef up inspection to contain the spread of bacteria in the state of Pohnpei.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority board yesterday stood pat on its earlier decision not to take over the operations of the financially-troubled Outer Cove Marina since the ports authority is still struggling to generate revenue to pay for its $33 million seaport revenue bond. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has asked CPA to study the offer made by the Marine Revitalization Corp. for the government to take over the operation of the Outer Cove Marina. MRC, a non-profit corporation operating the marina, is bleeding some $24,000 a month in interest payment alone for its huge debt.

Students with unpaid accounts can’t enroll[/B]

The Northern Marianas College is hoping to recover some $2 million in student collectibles, warning that those with outstanding dues will not be allowed to register in the coming semester. With the Fall 2001 registration period to commence next week, college officials are urging students with unpaid tuition and fees to settle their accounts before signing up for courses.

While college students and their families may get a sinking feeling with every report of rising college costs, research is underway that aims at least to show students and families what colleges do with all that money. The National Association of College and University Business Officers is doing a school survey to devise a formula for calculating the cost of educating undergraduates, from faculty salaries to heating classrooms.