FLASHBACK April 13, 1999-2001

CNMI, Northwest may deal[/B]

CNMI officials strongly indicated yesterday that they would likely approve a proposal by the Northwest Airlines to slash by almost 50 percent the landing fees and passenger facility charges in exchange for increased flights that is expected to pump in $23 million in fresh money into the local economy. Executives of the airline company met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, along with ports authority board chairman Roman S. Palacios and Aviation Task Force chairman JM Guerrero, to submit a package of proposals designed to give a lift to the slumping tourism industry. Local officials are upbeat on the Northwest proposal after Continental Airlines, the region’s main air carrier, dropped the Osaka-Saipan route due to declining passenger haul.

Korean Air will begin providing service to Saipan before the end of the year as the economic situation in Korea has shown great improvement, according to Yang Ho Cho, the airline’s president and chief executive officer. Yang met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Marianas Visitors Authority board chairman Dave M. Sablan Sunday evening. The governor has asked the Korean Air president to visit the CNMI again and for the airline to resume its Seoul-Saipan direct flight. While Yang did not exactly say when the airline will come back, Han Jin Travel, a subsidiary of Korean Air, managing vice president S. W. Park said charter flights may begin toward the end of June or early month of July.

Mayor: Saipan water delivery faces delay[/B]

Due to low water pressure, Mayor Jose C. Sablan yesterday said water delivery among residents on the island will be delayed. What used to take only 30 minutes to fill up a tank has now stretched to one hour and 30 minutes. “We are asking them to be patient and we are doing everything to [address] the situation,” said Ramon Diaz, budget and fiscal officer of the Mayor’s Office. The Mayor’s Office noted that the water supply from its present source has recently become too salty, prompting the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to assist them in identifying other areas where they can find better water for residents on the island.

The Commonwealth Development Authority is assuming a new role other than being the government’s premier lending arm: an educator of its clients on ways to become better borrowers. Development Authority Board Chair John S. Tenorio noted the importance of a good credit history in a borrower’s future loan applications, while stressing that the move is primarily aimed at curbing the agency’s increasing loan delinquency rate. Derelict borrowers are less likely to obtain loans from either government or private financial institutions even if they are able to settle their existing obligation.

Health chief sued for $3.6M[/B]

The children of a deceased woman yesterday filed a $3.6 million-civil action suit against Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez, holding the public official personally liable on allegations of neglect. The late Ana Deleon Guerrero Cepeda’s brood of eight, who each filed uniform complaints against the Department of Public Health, have apparently taken to heart the hospital’s alleged failure to preserve the remains of their dead mother, which resulted in the body’s desecration. The siblings through counsel G. Anthony Long are suing Mr. Villagomez along with five other unidentified Commonwealth Health Center staff for damages amid allegations of breach of contract.

The sight of oriental-looking ladies prancing along the streets of Western Garapan donned in arresting garbs has been the subject of meticulous scrutiny by authorities of late. To the untrained eye, the picture of well made-up ladies strolling briskly in groups around Saipan’s focal business district may appear as innocent as a flock of women out for an evening walk. But there is apparently more to the attention-grabbing scene than meets the eye. As frequent Western Garapan visitors can attest, the company of the string of ladies parading before one’s very eyes can be had for a number of hours, for a given price.