FLASHBACK June 10, 1999-2003

[B]June 10, 1999

Rota in water crisis[/B]

More than 1,500 residents of Songsong on Rota have been experiencing empty faucets in the past two days following a drastic drop in the level of Water Cave, the island’s major source of potable water, according to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation. This is the second time the island has faced serious water crisis since last year when the cave fell to its lowest level due to the drought triggered by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

[B]No new investment project since January[/B]

With the economy still reeling from the effects of Asia’s financial crisis, the Coastal Resources Management did not receive any permit application for a major investment project in the Northern Marianas from January to May 1999.

[B]RFP readied for cheaper water desalination plant[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation will soon begin its search for cheaper technology under a new request for proposal (RFP) to push a long-stalled water desalination project for Saipan, officials said yesterday. Expected to be issued within the next few weeks, the new RFP will emphasize the cost of the project as the initial bid drew little support from residents and leaders for its expensive proposition.

[B]June 10, 2002

A date with the Sun tomorrow[/B]

Astronomers and amateur eclipse chasers will troop to Tinian tomorrow to witness a rare celestial event—an annular solar eclipse that would be visible to most parts of the island, except at its northern tip. It was learned that the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has been fully booked months in advance by people who want to witness this solar phenomenon, and it is anticipated that the first ferry schedule in the morning—12:15am and 3:30am—would be packed with tourists and kibitzers alike.

[B]NMIRF investments drop to $345M[/B]

April snapped the two-month winning streak of the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund’s investment portfolio, posting a 1.45-percent drop in the portfolio’s market value. From March’s $350.18 million, the Fund’s overseas investment lost out to the bear in April, dropping to $345.1 million, or a difference of $5.07 million, based on figures provided by Fund money manager Merrill Lynch.

[B]Camacho vows to restore koban operation in Saipan
[/B] Public Safety Commissioner Edward C. Camacho vowed Friday to resurrect community policing on Saipan following the recent pullout of koban police officers stationed to man the streets of Western Garapan and the Kagman district. Camacho, during a press conference last week, promised to restore the ailing program with or without funding, as he explained that it was never a part of the plan to phase it out.

[B]June 10, 2003

Wright wants ETC for priority projects
[/B] Northern Marianas College president Kenneth Wright prefers the use of educational tax credit money for the higher learning institution’s priority projects. At the same time, Wright noted that there is no need to place ETC in a separate account, pointing out that this may only be used for unintended projects. “I don’t sort out money in different pockets.I don’t like that. I look at our overall budget.”

[B]Flexibility on SARS policy sought
[/B] The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association is seeking a compromise under the Commonwealth government’s self-imposed ban on the entry of persons from areas identified by the CNMI as SARS “hotspots,” after the latest restrictions reaffirmed a local ban against travelers from Hong Kong and other Asian cities. Richard A. Pierce, SGMA executive director, stated, “We seek only reasonable relief as we fully support the CNMI Government’s directives concerning this life threatening infection.