Flashback – February 1999-2002

No money for scholars[/B]

The government has no money to provide funding assistance to Northern Marianas College this year, but it needs to suspend scholarship grants this summer and slash financial aid to off-island students just to be able to accommodate its immediate needs. This is the assessment of the Tenorio administration to the House committee of Health, Education and Welfare on its request to set aside some funds for the cash-strapped college which has asked $575,000 in additional appropriation to cover tuition and other expenses of some 530 students this spring semester. “It doesn’t look good,” committee chair Rep. Heinz Hofschneider told NMC officials at the resumption of the oversight hearing on the state college yesterday. “I’m sorry, there is no additional revenues.”

A Washington proposal substantially reducing funding for infrastructure projects in the Northern Marianas has alarmed CNMI officials, calling it a ploy to force the commonwealth into accepting a plan on federal takeover of labor and immigration. The 51 percent cutback, unveiled in the Fiscal 2000 spending package President Bill Clinton has submitted to the US Congress for approval, would pare down to $5.6 million the $11 million yearly appropriation to the local government for Capital Improvement Projects. Local officials are worried that if the White House proposal goes through, it would adversely impact the commonwealth’s seven-year CIP master plan, which funds will come from federal grants.

Senate revives 80MW plant[/B]

Citing “irregularities” in its decision to scrap the 80-megawatt power project, the Senate yesterday passed legislation to force the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to stick with the original proposal despite its plan to have a smaller-sized plant. The measure, if it becomes law, will declare as public policy the need for a project with such magnitude and effectively nullify the decision by the board last month to cancel the initial request for proposal (RFP). Under Senate Bill 12-19 offered by Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, the CUC board will be absolved from potential liability arising from such decision, while doing away with its plan to conduct a fresh round of bidding, this time for a 60-MW generation capacity. “It is hereby declared to be public policy of the Commonwealth that construction of an 80-MW power plant under the build, operate, transfer concept, beginning with immediate installation of 60 MW of generating capacity, is in the best interest of the Commonwealth and the people,” the bill stated.

The number of food stamp recipients jumped 25 percent from 1998 to 1999 or a total of 1,517 households, as the island’s economy remain at a standstill, according to James Kintol, Nutritional Assistance Program director. Due to the increase in food stamp grantees, Mr. Kintol said he has asked for a $1 million additional funding on top of its recently approved $5.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2000. “They did approve the request for additional budget since there are indications that the food stamp recipients are increasing. We just have to submit the proper documents or show proof to justify the request,” he said.

27 months for Delbert Sablan[/B]

US District Court Chief Judge Alex R. Munson meted out a 27-month jail sentence on former police investigation chief Delbert R. Sablan based on his October 2001 theft conviction. Sablan, found guilty of stealing thousands of dollars in confidential informant funds during his tenure as police captain and Officer-In-Charge of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, was ordered to pay $8,491 in restitution to the Department of Public Safety. He was also directed to pay a fine of $15,000 and a $100 special assessment fee. Munson upheld the prosecution’s motion to increase the length of Sablan’s imprisonment but minimized the recommended six-level-which would mean an extra two years in prison-to a two-point upward departure, the length of which was not specified.

All outbound passengers originating from the United States and its territories, as well as those travelling domestically, started coughing up an additional $2.50 for their airline tickets, after the US government ordered the implementation of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. The new law, which was passed and implemented after the September 11 tragedies, mandate all carriers flying the United States air space to finance the operation of civil aviation security services. This includes the collection of a minimum of $2.50 from every airline passenger originating from the United States as payment for the Federal Aviation Administration’s security fee.