FLASHBACK

JUNE 5, 2005

SENATE TACKLES $700K PSS BUDGET REQUEST

The Public School System’s $700,000 supplemental budget request has passed the House of Representatives and is now due for discussion at the Senate. Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, chair of the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare and Programs, said he is set to hold a committee meeting on the matter Tuesday.

‘PRIVATIZATION IS NEXT PRIORITY’

After securing a two-year fuel contract with Mobil Oil Marianas, the Babauta administration now wants the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to expedite its privatization of power generation to ensure a more efficient delivery of power services. In a statement Friday, the Governor’s Office “encourages CUC to fast track the privatization of Power Plant I.” It said this is needed since CUC’s power plants are old and poorly maintained.

JUNE 5, 2004

EUCON HONORS THE GRADUATES OF 2004

The Korean Presbyterian Church in Chinatown was filled Thursday evening with parents, teachers and staff to witness the graduation ceremonies for the Eucon International School. The school graduated students in K5, Elementary, Junior High, and High School. Joining the graduates were several other students from each grade level. The school’s teachers, among them Theron Boyer, Ami Ridenour, Mary Hayden, William Massie, and Florita Cabanes, were present to give out the awards to students who achieved the President’s award, Principal award and Dean’s award from each grade.

NO SOLUTIONS IN SIGHT

The Commonwealth’s Utilities Corp. acknowledged yesterday that it is faced with two gigantic emergency situations-a water crisis and a power supply dilemma-but it is short of solutions. “Don’t just tell us about the problems here. We already know the problems but where are the solutions? Where is your recommendation? We want to see solutions. Put them on the table because you guys know better,” CUC board chair Herman P. Sablan told the management, represented by deputy executive director Bernard Villagomez, in yesterday’s board meeting.

JUNE 5, 2003

US BEGINS TRAINING ON TINIAN

U.S. military personnel began special training on Tinian yesterday, prompting the Emergency Management Office to issue an early morning advisory cautioning commercial planes to stay away from the area. The Pacific Islands Aviation said, though, that its regular flights to and from Tinian beginning Friday to Sunday continue. Mel Real, a travel agent at PIA, said the flights include those coming from and going back to Saipan and Guam. The military jurisdiction on Tinian encompasses about two-thirds of the entire island.
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UPPER CHAMBER INSISTS ON OTHER PRIORITIES

Senate President Paul A. Manglona was adamant in saying that the upper house does not appreciate being pushed into reacting to the House’s demand for the instant passage of the controversial prison financing bill or House Bill 13-278, in its latest form. While acknowledging the consent decree that exerts pressure on the CNMI to complete the prison facility within a strict timeline, Manglona, however, insisted there are other capital improvement needs besides the prison project that are currently being overlooked.

JUNE 5, 2002

CPA SUES TINIAN SHIPPING

Barely bouncing back from a brief period of disrupted ferry services following an arrest order issued by the federal court less than two weeks ago, the embattled Tinian Shipping and Transportation Inc. received yet another blow, this time, through a civil lawsuit initiated by the Commonwealth Ports Authority. The public corporation, through counsel S. Joshua Berger, lodged a $1.15 million suit against the troubled shipping company on grounds of nonpayment of passenger and dockage fees pursuant to a lease agreement that CPA and TSTI entered into last June 1, 1996.