Flashback May 26, 1999-2003

FLASHBACK

[B]May 26, 1999[/B] [B]DOF asked to probe pre-paid phone cards[/B] [I]Unlscrupulous businessmen rake in profits without paying taxes to the gov’t., says Rep. Apatang[/I]

Lawmakers have asked the Department of Finance to clamp down on unlicensed businesses selling pre-paid phone cards and operating remittance service in the Commonwealth which proliferation have resulted in huge losses in revenues for the cash-strapped government. Rep. David M. Apatang, chair of the House committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications, has instructed the DOF to investigate the proliferation of these companies for possible violations of existing tax laws.

[B]House poised to scrap gov’t. housing perks[/B]

The House of Representatives yesterday moved closer to voting on a proposal scrapping housing benefits to all public sector employees, including those recruited from the mainland, in efforts to reduce expenditures of the government by at least $2 million annually.
Offered by Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, the initial bill was overhauled by the House committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations which removed a separate proposal imposing salary caps.

[B]Teno: We’re making progress in reforms[/B]

Amid fresh allegations on labor abuses and proliferation of sweatshops in the Northern Marianas, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday that his administration is making headway in addressing the problems. The governor made the statement in light of media reports in the US mainland attacking the Commonwealth for allowing such situation to continue in a US territory.

[B]May 26, 2000[/B] [B]Lang to CUC: Force gov’t. to pay bills[/B]

Warning that the mounting utility bills incurred by the government is hurting the image of the CNMI to potential investors and financial institutions, former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio has urged anew the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to pressure the present administration to settle its $12 million debt.

[B]CUC to select 80-MW contractor today[/B]

Three top bidders on the long-delayed power project on Saipan will have the chance to win the $120 million contract as the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation starts its negotiations with each of them after today’s highly anticipated board decision. Six board directors of the government-owned utility corporation are expected to voice their votes on the fate of the proposed 80-megawatt power plant—a move that will bring the project to its next phase almost three years since its procurement began.

[B]Commerce sees turnaround in local economy[/B]

The path toward recovery is the only direction left for the CNMI economy to take after having been knocked down by strings of financial upheavals caused by the currency crisis in major Asian countries, the Department of Commerce said. Citing the prevailing business cycle pattern, acting Commerce Secretary David S. Palacios said the local economy has already reached rock bottom as indicated by the closure of too many businesses since the onslaught of the recession in 1997.

[B]May 26, 2003[/B] [B]NMI, Guam hold conference call on SARS[/B]

CNMI Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio and Guam Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo held a telephone conference call last May 22 for health officials from Guam and the CNMI with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. to discuss federal and local preparedness for an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. “The primary purpose of this call was to provide an opportunity for local officials to raise concerns regarding SARS with federal health officials and to discuss the resources available to Guam and the CNMI in the event of an outbreak,” said Bordallo.

Wright: Discrimination lawsuit ‘absurd’

Northern Marianas College president Kenneth Wright described as “absurd” the discrimination lawsuit that was filed against him by a former NMC director. “It’s an absurd accusation,” said Wright when asked to comment on the suit filed against him by terminated NMC director Jack Angello. The case is with the federal court.

[B]ACT to governor: Act now on teacher rep[/B]

The Association of Commonwealth Teachers has demanded that Gov. Juan N. Babauta immediately appoint its teacher nominee to the Board of Education or explain why it cannot be done so. In a letter addressed to Babauta dated May 16, 2003, ACT president Sapuro Rayphand said the governor has not acted on ACT’s recommendation to appoint Barbara Merfalen to replace former teacher representative Frank Keiper, who resigned his post middle of last year.