Flashback December 08, 1999-2002

Oversight eyed on Saipan power plant[/B]

Lawmakers intend to get involved deeply into the controversial new power plant for Saipan with calls for oversight investigation and a legislative policy declaring the need for such a project amid attempt by Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to scale back the initial plan.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente yesterday raised the possibility of investigating into the project, saying the move to scrap the 80-megawatt will only damage the credibility of the CNMI government.

Commonwealth Development Authority Board Chair John S. Tenorio yesterday said he will ask the Office of the Public Auditor to look into how public funds were used by the Northern Marianas College’s Business Development Center amid allegations of mismanagement.

According to Mr. Tenorio, CDA is not satisfied with the way BDC has run the graduate internship program, which gets an annual funding from his office. This has led CDA to terminate the grant agreement with NMC-BDC this year which resulted in the loss of some $93,000 funding this year for the Center.

CPA extends airline incentive program[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has decided to extend the implementation of an incentive program that gives signatory airlines 50 percent discount on departure facility charge if they are able to bring their visitor traffic 15 percent above their current passenger haul.

At the same time, the CPA Board of Directors approved the adjustment to existing departure facility charge from the current $8 per passenger to $6.35 beginning Jan. 1, 2001. The new rate will be in effect until Sept. 30, 2001.

Clamor for the filing of a lawsuit against the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency for their alleged mishandling of the situation in Tanapag received another boost, this time from the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.

The Council adopted a resolution supporting earlier calls for the taking of legal action by the Office of the Attorney General against the U.S. EPA and the Corps of Engineers, following investigations that these agencies committed gross negligence in carrying out the cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyl in Tanapag village.

Residents told: Prepare for typhoon[/B]

Acting Gov. Paul A. Manglona declared Typhoon Condition 2 for Saipan, Tinian and Anatahan at 8:30am yesterday, as he urged Northern Marianas residents to prepare for Typhoon Pongsona’s damaging winds, which are expected to hit the islands Sunday morning.

As of 4pm Saturday, a typhoon warning remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. A typhoon watch remains in effect for Agrihan.

Northern Marianas residents are advised to move to safe shelters, secure their property and vehicles against damaging winds, stated a public advisory from the Emergency Management Office.

In a time of economic difficulties, the CNMI’s key financing arm-the Commonwealth Development Authority-prefers to treat the financial upheavals as opportunities to do better, with a firm belief that there is a “silver lining behind every dark cloud.”

CDA Executive Director MaryLou S. Ada expressed such optimism before members of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Friday, while reporting on the shape of the Commonwealth’s economic development.