Flashback September 10, 1999-2002

[B]September 10, 1999

On OIA’s on-the-job political campaign: Probe residents
[/B] He said that if he had the opportunity, he would personally ask Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) to widen the probe to include locals who may be on the OIA’s payroll with the sole function to criticize the Commonwealth. “I would like…to recommend that the investigation be expanded to include…other people who are involved in checking out evidence against the CNMI, maybe some local residents also who are actively engaging in a smear campaign,” said Reyes.

[B]Legislature reviews $60M bond for CIP projects[/B]

The proposed $60 million bond now moving forward in the Legislature is intended to boost the local economy and lawmakers are hopeful it would be finalized by the end of this year. According to Rep. Karl T. Reyes, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the proposed allocation of the funds should be similar to the spending plan implemented by the Governor’s 702 Multi-Agency CIP Task Force.

[B]Arriola opposes sanction move against him[/B]

Lawyer Joseph Arriola yesterday opposed the motion filed by Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan and Chief Prosecutor Kevin Lynch who have asked the court to have him sanctioned for “extremely improper conduct.” Manibusan and Lynch have sought sanctions on Arriola in connection with his move to summon them to testify on a case which involved a businessman’s bid for return of the properties seized from him by the government.

[B]September 10, 2001

Seven suicide cases in two weeks reported[/B]

The Commonwealth Health Center recorded seven suicide incidents in the last two weeks, two of them were reportedly revived by hospital personnel. Sources privy to the cases disclosed that the victims claimed their lives for reasons ranging from severe depression to family-related problems. Reports reaching the Saipan Tribune indicated that two of the seven cases of suicide, which transpired in the last 14 days, involved students of a public high school. Five were reportedly attending school at a highly-reputable, private educational institution on Saipan.

[B]House passes 2002 budget[/B]

With a scant 12 days before the end of the fiscal year, the House of Representatives finally passed on Friday the $233.84 million Fiscal Year 2002 budget that substantially retained the original proposal of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. Slight variations were noted between the allocations outlined in the Governor’s proposed budget and the money measure that passed the House but, as expected, the Public School System got the biggest slice of the pie-19 percent, or $45 million-which is $2 million more than the original proposal for the PSS.

[B]‘Lift hiring ban on nonresidents’[/B]

In an additional bid to jump-start the CNMI economy, House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial has filed a bill that seeks to lift the moratorium on the hiring of nonresident workers. During Friday’s special session, Fitial said his bill, which remains unnumbered at the moment, is very important as it would help local businesses bring in qualified people who can help revitalize the economy. Primarily, Fitial’s proposed measure seeks to repeal Public Law 11-6, or the moratorium law, in its entirety.

[B]September 10, 2002

CIP master plan under review[/B]

Preparations are now going full steam ahead as the Commonwealth government prepares to sit down in less than a month for the Covenant 702 negotiations with the federal government. Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, who has been appointed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta to head the CNMI panel, said yesterday that he and a team at the Office of the Governor are now putting together a package of information that would be used as a basis for the CNMI’s proposal during negotiations in October.

[B]MVA finally gets its $2.6M[/B]

Exactly 68 days after House Bill 13-138 became law, the Marianas Visitors Authority finally got the check for the $2.6 million that it would use as supplemental budget for promotions. Marianas Public Lands Authority Board of Directors acting Chair Ana Demapan Castro handed over to MVA Board of Directors Chair Dave Sablan the freshly printed check during turnover ceremonies yesterday afternoon at the conference room of the Governor’s Office.