Flashback December 4, 2000

[B]December 04, 2000

Settle retro pay[/B]

Amid potential deadlock on budget discussion between the House and the Senate, a lawmaker appealed to his colleagues on Friday to appropriate money for payment of the so-called retroactive salary increase for government employees.

Rep. Jesus T. Attao said this is the time to settle the overdue compensation of these employees who have been awaiting the benefits for nearly 10 years.

Public Law 7-31 was enacted in 1991 to give government employees a 14 percent across-the-board salary hike, but many of them have yet to receive the raise until now due to financial difficulties confronting the CNMI and alleged politicizing of the issue by the previous administrations.

NMHC backs housing project on Rota

The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation Board of Directors has thrown support to a housing project on Rota which seeks to build a 30-unit housing subdivision in Sinapalo village.

In a letter addressed to Rep. William S. Torres, NMHC Manager Diana P. Crisostimo said the planning and preparation contained in the project proposal submitted by Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has impressed the NMHC Board of Directors which, in turn, vowed to support its completion.

[B]December 04, 2001

Bank assets nearing $700M mark[/B]

While economic indicators point to flat growth, the Commonwealth’s half-a-billion dollar banking industry is inching its way to the $700 million-mark, indicating a strong financial infrastructure in the Northern Marianas.

Bank assets registered consistent growth in each of the three quarters this year reaching $691.2 million as of end-September 2001 up from the previous quarter figure of $690 million in the second quarter of 2000.

Deposits totaled $612.8 million in the third quarter of 2001, higher by about $2.3 million from the quarter-ago’s $610.5 million. In the second quarter, total bank deposits amounted to $610.5 million, inching upwards from the previous period’s $601.2 million.

[B]CUC to lose $7.6M from utility rate ceiling
[/B] If the Legislature pushes through with the bill setting a ceiling on utility rates in the CNMI, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. would lose more than $7.6 million per year in revenue.

Not only that but CUC would also lose the flexibility to adjust rates to compensate for fuel price increases and could possibly lose out on future Capital Improvement Project funding and grants.

These were all pointed out by CUC officials during yesterday’s public hearing held by the House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication on Senate Bill 12-115. The committee also deliberated on Senate Bill 12-122, which seeks to lower the water rates for local farmers.
[B] December 04, 2002

Conflicting fruit bat story costs congressman $2K[/B]

The law may be harsh, but it is the law.

This legal maxim may be apt to describe the fate of House Rep. Daniel Quitugua, who, despite his stature and being a former director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, was fined by the division after being caught in possession of Mariana fruit bats.

Incumbent DFW director Richard Seman, who acted as administrative hearing officer yesterday morning, imposed a $2,000-fine against the congressman, who was assisted by former Superior Court Judge Timothy Bellas as legal counsel.

[B]Lower tuition for govt workers eyed[/B]

The Northern Marianas College aims to open its programs to all government employees at a lower rate.

The college’s Board of Regents Chair, Vince Seman, brought up the issue a few days ago, said NMC president Kenneth Wright.

“It’s the chairman’s idea. He wants to make programs available to all government employees at a special rate,” said Wright in an interview Monday.

Based on their initial dialogue, he said government workers would be given a chance to attend college classes if there is available space. This means they can only join NMC classes if there are vacant seats. As such, they would be likely asked to fill out a waiting list.