FLASHBACK

APRIL 30, 2005

10-CENT ROLLBACK ON GASOLINE

After a series of price increases in the last few months, Shell rolled back the pump prices of its gasoline by 10 cents a gallon yesterday afternoon, while Mobil announced that it would implement a similar rollback effective midnight last night.

Shell’s new prices took effect at 3pm yesterday.

Both companies claimed concern for customers after they increased pump prices several times, which made the retail price of gasoline as high as over $3 per gallon.

HOUSE WANTS TO RECALL $20M BORROWING BILL

House members now want to take back the bill that calls for a $20-million loan for government employees’ pay hike and retroactive pay, saying that it might only worsen the government’s financial standing.

The government currently faces a nearly $100- million deficit.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial said during Thursday’s session that the bill should be reconsidered due to “language” problems.

APRIL 30, 2004

‘IT’S GETTING BETTER EVERYDAY’

The Babauta administration boasted of its accomplishments in the last 12 months and urged the 14th CNMI Legislature to work closely with it in reaching its other goals for the Commonwealth.

During his 50-minute State of the Commonwealth Address yesterday morning at the Multi-Purpose Center, Gov. Juan N. Babauta painted a rosy picture of the CNMI economy and outlined a six-pronged plan that would benefit the entire Northern Marianas.

TENORIO: LOBBY EFFORTS ON NMI DELEGATE BILL NEED RATCHETING UP

There is currently heightened interest in Congress on the CNMI’s bid for a non-voting delegate status but, with U.S. elections in November, it is necessary for the Commonwealth to sustain its lobbying efforts to ensure that this and other CNMI issues are not left behind.

In his State of the Washington Representative’s Office report yesterday morning, Pete A. Tenorio said that Congress is already planning to introduce a bill that would grant the Commonwealth non-voting delegate status.

APRIL 30, 2003

ATALIG ASKED TO RESIGN

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Procedure was to start discussing with Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig yesterday the possibility of him voluntarily resigning from the Senate, following his conviction on 27 counts of federal wire fraud and conspiracy charges.

Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano said his committee will be convening at 2pm today to deliberate on Atalig’s case.

LOCALLY-OWNED SAIPAN CASINO MULLED

An initiative to allow casino gaming on Saipan to help revitalize the economy has been proposed by the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the CNMI Indigenous Entrepreneurs Inc., a group of local citizens that aims to strengthen business opportunities for local people. (See related story on page 2)

A key feature of the plan is to restrict the ownership and control of the casino solely to persons of Northern Marianas descent as defined by the CNMI Constitution. This restriction is similar to the legal precedent set by Native Americans who control their own local casino industry in the U.S. mainland.

APRIL 30, 2002

DEAD ALGAE TAKE TOLL ON ISLAND’S MAJESTIC SEASHORE

As she walked near the pathway along Beach Road, Marcy, a Saipan resident, noticed the abundance of brownish plant-like stuff on the shallow waters of the beach.

She quickly reacted with a grin and said, “Of course not!”, when asked if she would like to swim there, which would have been refreshing on a hot, sunny day. “It looks dirty,” she added.

What Marcy actually saw were dead algae that have invaded Saipan’s beaches stretching from across the pathway along Beach Road to the San Jose area.