Flashback July 30, 1999-2002

[B]July 30, 1999

State of emergency[/B]

A Commonwealth-wide state of disaster emergency was declared yesterday by the government following indications of major eruptions of a volcano in Alamagan that have forced evacuation of residents and restricted travels to the island north of Saipan. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, in his disaster declaration, said Alamagan is unsafe for human habitation and that travels to the tiny island will only be allowed for scientific expeditions, such as monitoring of the volcanic activities there.

[B]Bill to regulate finance companies axed[/B]

While he acknowledged the need for government control, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio vetoed yesterday a bill seeking to regulate finance companies, except banks, that extend consumer loans on the island due to vague provisions of the proposed law. Offered by Rep. Karl T. Reyes, the measure was the first attempt by the Commonwealth to provide for licensing and regulation of the financial sector which has increased in recent years.

[B]Legislature OKs Rota Resort lease extension[/B]

Legislators yesterday voted unanimously to grant for the third time a 15-year lease extension to the Rota Resort and Country Club aimed to bail out the financially-distressed company and help attract new investors to the tourists’ golf haven. The move followed decision by the Board of Public Lands to endorse the additional 15 years on top of the initial 25-year lease agreement with its Japanese owner, SNM Corporation, that ended months of squabble on the prime property.

[B]July 30, 2001

Power rate hikes capped[/B]

Utility customers may be on the brink of a major windfall after the Senate passed a bill that would set a limit on how high the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation can increase its rates for electricity and water. After hurdling second and final reading at the Upper Chamber, Senate Bill 12-115 now goes to the House of Representatives for review and approval.

[B]PSS to assess reading ability of first graders[/B]

Public school first graders will be spending the early part of the new school year answering a Reading diagnostic test designed to assess the reading ability of local students. Education Commissioner Dr. Rita H. Inos reported to the Board of Education last week that the implementation of the Reading test is part of the PSS’ accountability efforts in gauging the level of students’ reading ability, starting from the most crucial learning stage.

[B]Fitial slams Babauta[/B]

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial yesterday criticized Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta’s failure to stop his contacts in the US Congress from persistently assaulting the CNMI. “He is either on a permanent vacation in Washington or he is the most ineffective representative of CNMI interests we have ever had,” Fitial said in a media statement.

[B]July 30, 2002

Payroll money drying up[/B]

Government employees got their salaries last Friday but little did they know that they nearly didn’t get it. Cash flow problems has put a chokehold on the government’s $7.2 million bi-weekly payroll, sending the Babauta administration scrambling to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon for an emergency meeting to tackle possible courses of action. As a temporary measure, the government has decided to momentarily withhold the release of refund and rebate checks and the submission of payments to vendors so it could meet its payroll obligations.

[B]Few qualify for Police Academy[/B]

The Department of Public Safety is having difficulty recruiting qualified individuals who will become the next graduates of the new cycle of the Police Academy, with only 12 percent or 30 of 254 applicants meeting the minimum requirements. DPS Commissioner Edward C. Camacho admitted Friday that the Police Academy, which was supposed to start a few months back, has been moved several times due to the dismal turnout.