Flashback May 20, 1999-2003

Air Nauru seeks OK to fly to Saipan[/B]

In a move to fast track the establishment of a regional airline, an official of the Republic of Palau has asked Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and key members of the CNMI Legislature to begin talks immediately on the proposal of Air Nauru to extend its service to Saipan, Palau and Manila. Sen. Santos Olikong, chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs of Palau National Congress, put forward the proposal to hold discussions in a letter sent recently to the governor, Senate President Paul A. Manglona and House Speaker Diego T. Benavente.

Upset over the failure of the Office of Insular Affairs to inform the island government regarding the appointment of Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta as the islands’ representative to the renegotiation of the Compact deal with FAS, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday chided OIA Director Allen P. Stayman for bypassing the CNMI people. The outgoing OIA official has recently named Babauta as the Commonwealth representative to the October talks between the United States and the Freely Associated States, but the governor said it was done without consultation.

U.S Sen. Frank Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) latest immigration takeover proposal will provide a 10-year transition period to allow gradual reduction in the dependency by Northern Marianas on alien work force, while phasing in a system that will grant permanent residency to foreigners. It will also include a special provision to exempt the local hotel industry from the time restriction, allowing a five-year extension for an easy access to foreign labor pool to ensure adequate number of workers in the sector, according to the bill introduced last week in the U.S. Senate.

CPA posts 25-percent drop in revenue[/B]

Revenues generated by the Commonwealth Ports Authority from its airport division dropped 25 percent during the first six months of financial year 2002, indicating a slow recovery from the September 11 attacks, which grossly affected the CNMI tourism industry. A comparative report obtained from the CPA for the October-March 2001 and 2002 period disclosed that airport revenues went down 19.15 percent from $3.6 million in October-March 2001 to $2.9 million during the same period in 2002. The decline reflected the overall impact of the terror attacks, which affected passenger traffic at the islands’ air transport facilities.

As the nation prepares to honor its war dead on May 27, Gov. Juan N. Babauta has proclaimed this week as Memorial Week, giving tribute to the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines “who have fought and died defending freedom, democracy and justice.” During Friday’s proclamation signing, Babauta described the courage of Americans as “a bright flame in the world-one that will continue to light our path as we uphold democracy and defend freedom throughout the nations.”
[B] Babauta mum on Senate mudslinging[/B]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta had nothing but a terse “I don’t have time for that,” when asked Friday to comment on reports that the $2 million Compact Impact money that went to the Tinian High School was in exchange for the confirmation of all his nominees. This comes even as Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano belied the report Sunday, saying the comment is uncalled for and a disservice to all gubernatorial nominees who have already been confirmed by the Senate to their posts.
[B] MAY 20, 2003

House supports purchase of Washington Rep’s residence[/B]

The House of Representatives sees the practicality in the CNMI owning a residence for its Representative in Washington D.C., as opposed to merely renting a place like what the Commonwealth has been doing.

Northern Marianas College president Kenneth Wright said the Office of the Public Auditor knew about the new accreditation standards when it investigated the college’s reorganization last year.

The Public School System is being asked to implement an innovative school financing system called the Weighted Student Formula, which the House of Representatives yesterday endorsed as an approach that would empower the educational institution to more effectively respond to the needs of every student.