Flashback October 31, 2000-2002

OPA recommendations ignored[/B]

The Office of the Public Auditor is closely working with the commission created by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to ensure swift actions are taken by agencies on recommendations issued by the autonomous government accounting agency.

This, as the OPA disclosed that about 82 percent of all recommendations issued as of end-June 1999 are considered delinquents because of the respective government agencies’ failure to put in place immediate solutions.

A report released Monday revealed that OPA has issued 34 recommendations in the first half of the calendar year, which add up to the existing 194 suggestions still to be acted upon by offices that were audited.

Only 42 of the 228 recommendations issued by end-June 2000 were considered closed while 186 remain pending, awaiting action from concerned government agencies, according to Public Auditor Leo LaMotte in a letter to the IACAG.

CNMI may be cash-strapped by 2002[/B]

Marianas Visitors Authority Board Chair Dave M. Sablan warned that, unless cost-cutting measures in government operations are instituted, the CNMI will be cash-strapped by the end of 2001.

Sablan projected a 30-40 percent drop in tourist arrivals on financial year 2002, mainly because of the travel scare brought on by the suicide attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

He said the MVA is expecting visitor arrivals to return to the pre-September 11 levels in yet another year. “Both private and government sectors must exercise discipline and cut cost.”

Irate Tanapag residents have found an ally in a legislator who asked the US Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider its decision granting conditional approval to the on-site treatment of some 20,000 tons of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl.

Rep. Dino Jones, chair of the House committee on Natural Resources, said contaminated soil should be shipped out of Saipan for treatment.

In an attempt to instill compunction on concerned EPA officials should the proposed treatment plan be implemented, Jones wrote a letter to Michael Feeley, the EPA Region IX’s Superfund Division deputy director.

NMIA submits new workers’ compensation tariff manual[/B]

The Northern Marianas Insurance Association has submitted to the Office of Insurance Commission a new tariff and underwriting manual with tailored classifications that would provide uniformity in the workers’ compensation tariff.

The new manual will prevent insurance firms from cheating on workers’ tariff and compensation rates. If found in violation of the new schedule, insurance firms will be slapped with unfair practice charges or face a possible closure.

The new tariff would standardize the premium rates, local insurance officials said.

Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao yesterday withdrew his motion for a reorganization of the House of Representatives, a day after he stunned the CNMI community with his unexpected decision to step down.

Attao officially made the announcement before House members during a regular session, in the same way that he broke his previous intent to resign Tuesday.

Opting to keep his post, Attao stated for the record that the “leadership headed by [Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider] was intact and working very hard for the betterment of the Commonwealth.”

Without delay, House members burst into applause, apparently signaling the end of the stiff atmosphere that cloaked the lower House this week.

But to the end, Attao chose to keep mum about the reason or reasons behind his earlier decision to resign. He told the media he did not want to comment any further.