FLASHBACK January 3, 2001-2003

Oil firms monitor world prices of gas[/B]

Although world prices of crude oil have already started sliding, the adjustments are not enough to warrant a rollback in local prices of petroleum products but major companies disclosed they are strictly monitoring the trend in the international market. Major oil retail industry players in the region—Mobil Oil Mariana Islands, Inc. and Shell North Pacific—are not likely to disclose immediate plans but stressed that they remain abreast on the situation in the world market. Shell North Pacific president Andrew Harford said the oil company is on consistent review of the trends in the regional market but added that the current international situation does not warrant any adjustment on local prices yet.

Police may be able to resolve the William S. Reyes Elementary School burglary this week as investigators recovered some of the stolen equipment and obtained confessions from some of the suspects. According to Police Capt. Delbert Sablan, the suspects may be arrested this week as investigators have already identified the suspects. Most of the equipment which were stolen and sold to different people have been recovered by the police over the weekend which include television set, computers and air con units. The police asked the school authorities to submit an inventory of the equipment missing in the school.

Newly-signed laws give investors more reason to do business in NMI[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio jumped the gun yesterday on the Three Wise Men by bearing gifts for the CNMI’s investors in the form of two newly-signed laws, which effectively give them more reason to continue doing business in the Commonwealth. Just four days shy of The Epiphany, Tenorio simultaneously signed into law House Bill 12-380 and House Bill 12-391, which amends the Investment Incentives Act to benefit pre-Act investors and clarifies the CNMI’s tax laws to avoid double taxation, respectively. As Tenorio pointed out, House Bill 12-380-now known as Public Law 12-80-expands the time frame within which a business can become eligible to apply for a Qualifying Certificate, making it retroactive to three years before the enactment of the Investment Incentives Act on December 3, 2000.

It seems the Transition Committee has embarrassed itself again, after it apparently tried to secure private information about some personnel in the course of their work, resulting in the Attorney General’s Office issuing an opinion upholding the privacy rights of government workers. This came to light after the Transition Committee accused the Office of Personnel Management of having communication problems with the Developmental Disabilities Council and scolded it for disseminating the Attorney General’s opinion on access to personnel records to other departments. Apparently, some transition panel subcommittees were asking the different departments for access to personnel records, which the departments felt were legally questionable and a violation of the privacy rights of individuals.

MPLA board approves reorganization[/B]

To be more focused and efficient in its operations, the Marianas Public Lands Authority Board of Directors yesterday approved a new organizational chart that resulted in the creation of two new divisions. From the previous five, the new chart showed six divisions directly under the deputy commissioner’s office headed by Frank Eliptico. Eliptico’s previous Real Estate division is now called Property Management, and is now headed by John Oliver Gonzales.

Youth leaders gathered yesterday at the Aqua Resort Club to undergo a weeklong workshop on media development that would run up to January 7. During the kick-off training, youth leaders discussed proper presentation of media subjects, brochure and poster making, proper dissemination of information, and newspaper publication. According to Public School System HIV-Health Program Coordinator Jackie Quitugua, the workshop aims to utilize youth leaders as role models for the community.