Flashback — Aug. 1999-Aug. 2002

Teno defends CNMI vs criticisms[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said he has informed Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) of the labor and immigration reforms being implemented by his administration in an apparent bid to calm worries of the U.S. senator on the working conditions in the CNMI. But he also expressed hope that the ranking member of the U.S. Senate would support the Northern Marianas, as he described Harkin as “open- minded.” Tenorio met for two hours with Harkin before departing for Indonesia last Wednesday night. The senator was on island for a few hours to meet federal and local officials as well as tour garment factories on Saipan.

The Senate has agreed to amend a proposed measure granting spending powers to the Commissioner of Education over close to $30 million in capital improvement projects for the Public School System in a bid to expedite the sector’s critical infrastructure plans. Senate President Paul A. Manglona said the amendment would include reduction in funding for a proposed public library on Rota, which has drawn concern from the administration as it was not included in the original CIP plan. House Bill 11-455 will amend a new law that sets aside a total of $29.96 million for various PSS projects on Saipan, Rota and Tinian and grants expenditure authority to Commissioner Rita H. Inos.
[B] Aug. 20, 2001

House OKs changes to investment incentive law[/B]

A bill that intends to amend the Investment Incentive Act to benefit previous investors in the CNMI now goes to the Senate for adoption after it passed the House of Representatives during Friday’s special session. Despite concerns raised by the Commonwealth Development Authority, House Bill 12-380, House Draft 1, Committee Substitute 1 made it through the lower chamber on a majority vote. It was not easy, though, as proponents of the bill had to call on acting Finance Secretary Robert Schrack and Rufino Inos, consultant for Revenue and Taxation, to help explain the bill’s ramifications and its possible effect on the revenue generating capabilities of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is aggressively lobbying for the inclusion of Saipan in the list of American destinations that will be served by the Taiwan-based Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation under its recent application to the United States Department of Transportation. Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said CPA would back the carrier’s application to the US-DOT which would enable the airline company to engage in scheduled and charter air transport services between the Asian island-nation and several destinations in the US.

CPA processing release of security funds from FAA[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is processing the release of about $1.1 million in reimbursement from the Federal Aviation Administration for the expenses it incurred in implementing beefed up security and safety measures at the Saipan International Airport. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the ports authority has been in close coordination with the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation for the release of the money. Salas said the CNMI is applying for a financial relief package from the USDOT—Transportation Security Administration. “The good news is we can now get our relief package. We are processing the documents for the $1.1 million security package.”

The U.S. Department of Education recently notified the Northern Marianas College that its grant application for the Strengthening Institutions Project Proposal was awarded $1,750,000. The NMC stands to become a stronger post-secondary institution over the next five years with the receipt of this U.S. Department of Education Title III Strengthening Institutions grant. The Title III grant, a competitive and discretionary award that the NMC applied for during the spring 2002 semester, will provide $365,000 in annual funding for the next four years and about $287,215 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. The primary purpose of the grant is to improve student performance and to increase retention and graduation rates by assisting academic programs as they design and implement new learning modalities.