Flashback June 30, 1999-2003

[B]June 30, 1999

Govt asked to cut work hours[/B]

The powerful House Ways and Means Committee is likely to press the administration to further cut the government personnel costs under its proposed spending level for FY 2000 by implementing a reduction in the work hours to meet declining revenues. Committee chair Rep. Karl T. Reyes said this is one area which they will consider in the deliberation of the budget proposal handed in by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio last April.

[B]Demapan named SC chief justice[/B]

As expected, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday nominated Miguel S. Demapan as chief justice of the Supreme Court, ending weeks of speculation on his choice to occupy the post vacant since December after the retirement of former Chief Justice Marty W.K. Taylor. The governor at the same time appointed several people to various government boards, including to the Board of Public Lands, but left open the seat of its former chair Tomas B. Aldan whose two-year term expired last June 4.

[B]Castro: No hard feelings[/B]

Associate Justice Alex C. Castro yesterday gave assurance that he has no hard feelings about the appointment of Miguel S. Demapan as chief justice of the CNMI Supreme Court. “I am sure the decision was a difficult one. Let us therefore respect and support our governor’s decision without question,” said Castro, who shared the chief justice position with Demapan in an acting capacity for five months.

[B]June 30, 2000

Teno assures tourism leaders: No tax hikes[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio pledged yesterday before tourism leaders not to raise taxes and impose new fees at this time when the economy is still reeling from the impact of the Asian recession that has pulled down visitor arrivals to the CNMI. He also sought support of the business community in improving the delivery of public services and in wooing foreign investments into the Commonwealth, saying that the government is dependent on revenues it generates from the sector.

[B]Asiana plans to add 7 flights a week in 2001[/B]

The Northern Marianas is beginning to witness the comeback of its second largest tourism market almost three years after they started coming in trickles, as manifested by serious plans of a major Korean carrier to double the frequency of its flight services between Seoul and Saipan next year. Asiana Airlines Saipan Station Manager Hong Seong Min disclosed the carrier is now considering the deployment of two flights a day in the year 2001 or a total of 14 regular flight schedules per week.

[B]Continental resumes Saipan-Osaka service[/B]

Continental Airlines yesterday revealed that it will resume non-stop service between Saipan and Osaka starting February 1, 2001 to March 31, 2001 to accommodate the expected influx of Japanese tourists during that period. According to Walter Dias, staff vice president of sales and promotion, the airline will fly non-stop from Saipan to Osaka four times a week.

[B]June 30, 2003

‘CDA, prison task force misled govt over funding'[/B]

Both the Saipan Prison Task Force and the Commonwealth Development Authority reportedly misled the Babauta administration that there was full funding available for the $17.29-million Saipan prison project, when in fact the money on hand was only a fraction of the entire amount. This was stressed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta Friday, explaining that funding problems continue to dog the prison facility project because, when they signed the contract, his administration was told that the total $17.29 million was available.

[B]Governor says CUC has right to disconnect govt[/B]

While saying that the Legislature has only appropriated a dismal $5 million for utility bills this fiscal year, Gov. Juan N. Babauta said that the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has the right to disconnect its non-paying customers, including the central government. “CUC has every right to do disconnections. I’m not saying it’s okay [with us] but we should be treated like everybody else,” said the governor in a recent interview.