Flashback November 10, 1999-2002

Lin’s son escapes kidnap attempt[/B]

The 13-year-old son of one of Saipan’s biggest garment manufacturer escaped a kidnapping attempt while in school Monday afternoon. Police suspected this could be a kidnap for ransom attempt.

According to a police report, the boy, who is the son of businessman James Lin, owner of UIC, was about to attend his band class at around 1:00 p.m. when an Asian-looking woman called him to approach a brown van parked near the Saipan Community School.

The woman, according to the report, called the boy’s name in Chinese and told Lin’s son that she has something for his mother.

The boy ran back to the school premises after struggling with an unidentified man wearing a mask who tried to drag him inside the vehicle.

The top bidder in the controversial Saipan power project has cautioned the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation against downscaling the initial plan to ensure efficient electricity.

Enron said a potential power crisis still remains and that the proposed 80-megawatt plant can help meet increasing demand in the future in line with CNMI’s plan to develop its economy.

“The urgency that CUC previously stated is in fact still a reality. And if the size of the plant is in question, it should be how much larger it should be, not smaller,” said David B. Howe, Enron vice president, in a letter to Board Chair Rosario M. Elameto.

Students owe NMC $2.8M[/B]

Board of Regents Finance Committee Head Vince Seman has instructed the Northern Marianas College Business Office to step up efforts in collecting unpaid student fees which have grown to $2.8 million over the last four years.

Mr. Seman told the Business Office staff recover the remaining accounts receivables more seriously, even directing them to initiate legal action if necessary.

“While we understand the need to assist our students, we also have bills to pay,” said Mr. Seman during a BOR meeting yesterday.

Under NMC policies, students still with balances to settle are not granted credits for the course they took unless they pay their dues.

Tough times are ahead for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. as it continues to be saddled by rising fuel costs and unpaid government billings that have resulted to the agency operating at a loss this year.

CUC Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez yesterday warned utility officials of more belt-tightening in the next few months unless the price of fuel goes down and the government pays its debt.

The board of directors was given a grim report on the government-owned corporation’s financial shape at a meeting yesterday, indicating a loss of close to $300,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2000.

NMC sees lower tuition in 2009[/B]

By 2009, local students at the Northern Marianas College would only be paying $25 per credit, a significant drop from the current fee of $65; that is if the expansion plan as advocated by NMC president Kenneth Wright prospers.

Based on the NMC transformation plan that covers 2004-2009, the college’s population-after six years-would grow to about 7,000 students, with its annual revenue anticipated to reach $117 million.

Right now, the NMC has average enrollees of over 2,000 for one academic year. It has an annual income of about $17 million.

The 2009 goal would be realized by implementing a program that basically promotes the entry of more international students from Asia.

Wright, in an interview Friday, said the NMC has “terrific” marketing advantages-a quality program, close proximity, a tropical island, and a lower cost of education.