TENO’S WISH LIST FOR 2000 Better economy, once a month press conference

Better economy, continuous public service and once a month press conference — these were the wishes of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for the new year when interviewed by reporters yesterday.

Although it came four days late, the governor said he doesn’t have any new year’s resolutions for 2000 as there were “too much resolutions passed by the Legislature” in apparent dig to lawmakers’ propensity to adopt these legislative measures to express their sentiments.

Asked what he wished personally, he jokingly mentioned having news conference once a month with local reporters. Mr. Tenorio had declined interviews with the media in recent weeks following criticisms of his administration.

But the light banter with reporters yesterday apparently eased the tension as the governor expressed his thoughts about the new millennium.

For the economy, Mr. Tenorio said he hopes it will rebound this year as the Asian economies, the island’s main source of tourists and investors, have recovered in recent months.

“I’m very optimistic that our economy will improve little better than the past few years,” he added.

He also hoped to control government spending this year amid failure by the Legislature to approve the FY 2000 budget proposal amounting to nearly $207 million.

“I doubt whether the budget will be passed by the 11th Legislature, the administration continues to spend money based on the FY 1999 budget. We continue to make sure that essential public services will be provided,” said Mr. Tenorio.

On the island’s celebration of the new millennium, he expressed relief that no major incidents occurred, especially during the rollover into 2000 on New Year’s Eve.

“I hope that this new year will be a better year for everybody. I hope this new millennium will bring love, prosperity among all the people here in the CNMI and we hope and pray that this will also be [true] around the world,” said Mr. Tenorio.

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, on the other hand, is upbeat that it will be a better year for the Commonwealth. “I hope that our economy will pick up and our people will be in better shape,” he said in a separate interview.

CNMI’s second highest ranking leader also wished for “a lot of blessings from the Lord for our people and that sufferings from the past should be wiped out in this new year.”