Flashbacks November 13, 2000-2004

[B]November 13, 2000[/B] [U]Govt sues couple for neglecting guest worker[/U]

The CNMI government has filed a civil suit before the Superior Court against Juan and Vivian Lizama for refusing to pay the back wages of their former Filipino housemaid Benedicta Alvear, who had died of cancer. According to the civil complaint filed through Assistant Attorney General Celeste Andersen, the Lizama couple also failed to pay the nonresident worker ‘s medical bills, failure to comply with Employment Standards, violation of the Minimum Wage and Hour Act and noncompliance with the order of DOLI’s hearing officer.

[U]Judicial College eyes NMI as regional training center[/U]

With its modern court facilities and well-trained judges and justices, Saipan may soon become the site of a regional training center for the judiciary. Two representatives from the National Judicial College, Peggy Vidal, international manager, and Wyoming Judge Michael Lamp were sent here by the Ninth Circuit Court for an exploratory visit last week.

[B]November 13, 2001[/B] [U]HUD gives NMI a second look [/U]

The Washington DC-based Department of Housing and Urban Development has been prompted to review its earlier decision not to implement a mortgage insurance program in the CNMI after a recent teleconference that showed up its lack of adequate information on the state of the housing industry in the Commonwealth. The HUD headquarters is now going over materials and data provided its office by Rep. William S. Torres, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. and the Bank of Hawaii, with the end view of determining whether there is enough borrowing demand in the CNMI to support the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage insurance program.

[U]Yuletide hoped to bring life to poor sale figures[/U]

If it is any consolation, a local establishment has reported a steady increase on the sale of Christmas decor and trimmings — the first positive news heard from the business sector since the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US. At the same time, local stores selling Christmas ornaments have also raised hopes that their sales will grow during the holiday season.

[B]November 13, 2002[/B] [U]Administration-House showdown looms[/U]

In terse language that drew attention to his opposition to the bill, Gov. Juan N. Babauta vetoed House Bill 13-126, setting the stage for another possible confrontation with the House of Representatives, which had earlier vowed to override any veto on the measure. In his transmittal letter to the Legislature, Babauta did not cite any specific reason for the veto action, besides merely saying he is taking this action based on the comments and legal analysis made by the Office of the Attorney General on House Bill 13-126.

[B]’Why are we not surprised?'[/B]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s veto on House Bill 13-126–the bill drafted to correct ambiguities on Public Law 13-1–came as no surprise to most Legislature members. But immediate reactions from some House and Senate members came in the form of a question: What is the rationale behind the veto?

[B]November 13, 2003[/B] [U]Tourists are coming back[/U]

Visitor arrivals to the Northern Marianas last month indicated that the islands’ tourism industry is beginning to regain strength following tumultuous global events that adversely impacted the travel sector across the globe. For the second consecutive month, the number of tourists who visited the CNMI increased in October compared to the monthly figures last year. Last month’s arrival tally of 38,512 was just 0.38 percent shy of October 2000’s 40,400 total-before the 9-11 tragedy pillaged economies worldwide.

[U]Babauta seeks increased military presence[/U]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta is looking to confirm if the U.S. Pacific Command has the Northern Marianas in mind amid reported plans by Pacom to close or downsize its military base in Okinawa. The chief executive is poised to raise the subject as part of the agenda in his Nov. 24 meeting with Admiral Thomas Fargo, the Pacom commander.

[B]November 14, 2004[/B] [U]Contract with coin maker suspended[/U]

The CNMI has suspended its contract with a U.S.-based coin manufacturer in the wake of a court injunction imposed against the company in New York over alleged fraudulent acts. Gov. Juan N. Babauta said the CNMI is suspending its Nov. 3, 2003 agreement with Softsky.