Flashback September 04, 2000-2002

[B][U]September 04, 2000[/U][/B] [B]CPA rolls back airport fees[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority on Saturday decided to roll back existing airport departure facility charge from $8 to $5.79 per passenger, a development that resulted from a series of discussions between CPA officials and CNMI signatory airlines representatives. Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said the rollback will result to substantial savings on the part of the airline companies without adverse impact on CPA’s capabilities to meet its airport bond indenture.

[B]Teno signs law expanding weapons control[/B]

Giving minors access to guns is now a crime in the CNMI, punishable with up to a month in prison and fine of not more than $1,000 under a law signed last Friday. Public Law 12-17, otherwise known as the Minor Children Firearms Control Act of 2000, also requires gun owners to secure their weapons away from children. A violation constitutes a $500 fine and a three-day jail sentence.

[B]Gov’t agencies gather for Labor Day festivities[/B]

The Commonwealth paid tribute yesterday to hardworking members of its local workforce as the whole community joined the Labor Day 2000 festivities at the American Memorial Park. The event drew close to 1,500 government employees with their families for a lineup of fun-filled activities held throughout the day.

[B][U]September 04, 2001[/U][/B] [B]AGO recommends closure of 52 ‘sex houses'[/B]

The Attorney General’s Office is recommending the revocation of the business permits of at least 52 licensed establishments on Saipan that were found to have been secretly operating a prostitution den. Tourist-Related Crime Prevention Task Force Chair and Attorney General Herb Soll disclosed government lawyers have already petitioned to revoke the business permits of the 52 establishments. The recommendation came following a series of investigations against the proliferation of sex trade in the Western Garapan area.

[B]School enforces anti-dropout program[/B]

Educators are rallying to eliminate the high incidence of student dropout in the Northern Marianas by addressing the issue at the earliest, most crucial stage: At the lower grade levels. The Garapan Elementary School, led by Principal Juan L. Babauta, over the weekend took strides to strengthen its hold on students through a Megaskills Workshop that aimed to make the best out of student learning.

[B]Rota bird nearing extinction[/B]

The Rota bridled white-eye, a bird which is endemic to Rota, is feared to be nearing extinction. This prompted the United States’ Department of the Interior to determine with finality its inclusion on the list of endangered species protected by legislation. This developed as the US Navy recently admitted that there has been a decrease in bird population on Farallon de Medinilla and the entire Northern Marianas.

[B][U]September 04, 2002[/U][/B] [B]Due to budget deficit, Legislature may close down[/B]

The CNMI government has reached its $193 million limit as of August 28 last week, prompting House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider yesterday to declare that the lower chamber may have to close down starting today. Even as he was speaking, a letter arrived from Gov. Juan N. Babauta, saying that he need not do that since the money allotted to the lower chamber has not been impounded yet and remains available for expenditure by the lawmakers.

[B]Govt employees given top honors[/B]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta challenged all CNMI employees to improve on their tasks and continuously commit services to the public, as he led the awarding of this year’s most outstanding public servants at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe yesterday. Babauta, together with Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, recognized the exemplary contributions of close to 4,000 government employees in the delivery of public and social services to the community.

[B]’Japan missions okay, but don’t overlook us'[/B]

Tourism industry players threw their support behind Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s plan to conduct monthly trade missions to Japan, the Commonwealth’s premier market. But both the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the CNMI Marine Sports Association said the Governor’s delegation should include industry players to make it more effective. Both associations said they plan to ask Babauta for their group’s inclusion in the monthly trade missions. “HANMI surely welcomes that approach. It’s always a plus to do courtesy calls to heads of states,” said HANMI Chair Ron Sablan. “This is something that should have been [done] a long [time] ago.”