FLASHBACK – August 30, 2011

Proposal seeks to establish protected areas in Tinian[/B]

Some areas on Tinian will be declared protected region for wildlife conservation under a plan pending with the local legislative delegation in an effort to safeguard resources and endangered species found on the island. The proposed measure offered by Rep. Norman S. Palacios will also impose fines of between $100 to $1,000 for violations within the region which will be established within the Suicide Cliff and extending to Rion Point in the island municipality. Conservation of such wildlife as coconut crabs, fruits bats and various species of birds, is important not only to Tinian residents and future generation, but also to the local economy as it tries to develop eco-tourism, according to officials.

The decision by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to impose parking charges at the Puerto Rico seaport received disapproval from the public especially motorists who regularly do business at the harbor, in what appears to be a manifestation that the CNMI is still reeling from hard economic times. But CPA executive director Carlos H. Salas the newly-implemented paid parking system at the Saipan seaport has been anticipated to solicit mixed reactions from the public since it would entail additional expense on their part. “In the long term, they will realize the merits of the paid parking scheme because their vehicles will be highly secured and should be free from vandalism that we used to have here on the island,” Salas said.

PSS faces shortage of education specialists[/B]

The Public School System recently acquired new specialists to staff its Special Education Program but admitted it is still grappling with a nationwide shortage of SPED experts that has left critical areas of the local program inadequately attended. Acting Associate Commissioner for Secondary Education Rita A. Sablan said PSS has been affected by the national crisis on the lack of available SPED and related service providers, leaving vacant some crucial positions in the PSS’ SPED program. Though PSS recently hired new off-island specialists, Sablan said recruitment efforts are still ongoing amid goals to improve services offered to school children with special needs.

Former President Kuniwo Nakamura of the Republic of Palau has been appointed by Century Insurance Co., Ltd. to serve as the company’s general agent in Palau. In addition to the new Palau office, CIC does business in Saipan, Pohnpei and Chuuk, and plans to expand to the Marshall Islands and Guam, according to company officials. “We are very pleased to welcome former President Nakamura to our business family of agents and brokers,” said CIC President David M. Sablan. “In addition to expanding our commitment to serve the region, we have launched an improvement program designed to meet global standards of service. We welcome the help of respected executives like President Nakamura,” he said.

CPA in final talks with US cargo firm[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is now on the last leg of its negotiations with a major U.S. cargo company for a weekly direct port call to Saipan, an attempt anticipated to bring in additional revenue to the CNMI economy. The CPA, led by Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, is now finalizing negotiations with Oakland-based U.S. cargo firm CSX Lines, a shipping company that provides domestic trades to and from the United States mainland, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Canada. In an interview, Salas disclosed that negotiations with CSX Guam/CNMI General Manager Mar Labrador are now on the final stage with minor arrangements to be made with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Meetings with nongovernmental organizations in Japan could pave the way for potential financial assistance, which the CNMI could take advantage of. This was stressed by Rep. William S. Torres, who is currently with Gov. Juan N. Babauta in his trip to Tokyo. He was interviewed yesterday in a telephone patch arranged by Special Assistant for Federal Relations Sonya Artero. Besides meeting with government officials, Torres said the CNMI delegation also met with several nongovernmental groups, which he said is extremely important.