FLASHBACK June 12, 2000-2002

[B]June 12, 2000

U.S. owes CNMI over $100 million[/B]

The United States owes the CNMI government over $100 million in total funds for the reimbursement of the Compacts of Free Association’s fiscal impacts to the local coffers from 1986 to 1999, official records obtained from Capitol Hill disclosed. A summary of the Compacts’ estimated financial impacts indicated that the Commonwealth government coughs up an average of $15 million every year to subsidize various social services delivered to citizens of the three countries signatory to the agreement with the U.S.

[B]Bush presidency means better ties with CNMI[/B]

The chief of Republican candidate George W. Bush’s presidential campaign for the Pacific islands stressed the importance of his victory in the November elections to improving strained relations between the federal government and the CNMI. T.E. Manase Mansur, liaison of the Bush for President committee for American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI, said the Texas governor has a track record of supporting local government.

[B]GOP reaffirms unity[/B]

The Republican Party is gearing up to maintain its majority hold in the CNMI as potential candidates to next year’s elections pledge to uphold unity despite the outcome of the forthcoming primary. GOP held its first ever fund raiser as a party this year and get together last Saturday at the Royal Taga Beach Club. While the venue was not full packed, organizers said they were satisfied with the turnout and the money they raised from the $30-per-head tickets.

[B]June 12, 2001

Telecom commissioners sworn into office[/B]

The newly-created Telecommunications Commission will meet with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to discuss issues faced by telecom industry players in the Northern Marianas. CUC once handled telecommunications matters in the Commonwealth, until the Legislature cooked up the idea of establishing a panel especially tasked to look after the industry.

[B]MVA thumbs down calls for longer Taste of the Marianas[/B]

The Marianas Visitors Authority thumbed down proposals that the annual Taste of Marianas be extended from its current month-long calendar into a two-month food festival. MVA Deputy Managing Director Vicky J. Benavente said extending the Taste of Marianas to two months would simply cost too much and dilute the attractiveness of the event.

[B]3 firms submit bids for Managaha concession[/B]

The Office of Public Land is expected to come up with a decision on the submitted bids for the commercial development of the Commonwealth’s premiere tourist attraction, Managaha Island. Public Lands Administrator Bertha C. Leon Guerrero expects a decision from the board of directors on who among the three companies that have submitted bids will be granted the concession to operate the resort.

[B]June 12, 2002

US visa holders don’t need ATB[/B]

Labor and Immigration Secretary Joaquin A. Tenorio yesterday said U.S. visa holders, regardless of their nationality, may freely enter the Commonwealth without securing Authorization to Board letters or ATBs. Tenorio said the department has adopted an emergency regulation exempting U.S. visa holders from the requirement of securing ATBs, and that the visas would be honored even if the traveler did not have an ATB.

[B]A spectacular show in the sky[/B]

Shortly after sunrise yesterday, the sun and the moon presented a spectacular sky show that awed hundreds of tourists and residents on Saipan and Tinian, and thousands more in Pacific countries-from Indonesia to California. On Saipan and Tinian, the solar eclipse started its 8,700-mile journey across the Earth on a clear sky at 7:55am. With the sun still high in the sky, a dark moon shadow crept slowly upward, taking a small bite out of the glowing yellow orb about an hour and a half before sunset.