Flashback August 04, 1999-2003

CUC says no to debt forgiveness for govt[/B]

Saying they are being generous by not disconnecting utility services to the government, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Board Chair Rosario Elameto yesterday opposed a recommendation to write off portion of the debt it has accumulated over the past six months. She said the government must settle its bills amounting to $6.8 million based on an easy payment plan that will be worked out between CUC and the Department of Finance to avoid disconnection.

Patrol car operations for Fiscal 2000 may be affected after the budget for car lease has been cut from $1.1 million to just over $800,000, according to the Department of Public Safety. The Office of Budget and Management has also drastically reduced the department’s budget for fuel to $18,000 for FY 2000 from the current appropriation of $147,000. DPS burns approximately $13,000 worth of fuel every month.

Despite a slight improvement in tourist arrivals, most of the businesses on the island could still barely survive the effects of Asia’s financial crisis, with earnings just enough to maintain the day-to-day operation. “It is still a roller coaster ride for most of us,” said acting Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Gregg Kresge.

Customs chief to get rid of corrupt personnel[/B]

Customs Director Joe Mafnas has pledged to rid the division of corrupt personnel due to concerns raised on their possible connivance with unscrupulous businessmen in the smuggling of imported items into the Northern Marianas. “We are in continued monitoring of our customs officers assigned at both the airport and the seaport because we do not want the Division’s image be tainted by corrupt personnel who succumb to bribes,” Mr. Mafnas said.

The Public School System conducted yesterday a final inspection of the newly constructed Kagman Elementary School following reports of funding problems which delayed its opening. Claiming that funding sources has already been identified, Ed Tenorio, special assistant for budget and management, explained that currently the Office of the Governor and the PSS are working closely to discuss possible refining of fund allocation since the elementary school is set to open a month before the fiscal year begins.

A preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General revealed that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 and the Army Corps of Engineers committed gross negligence, violated their own policies and federal laws in carrying out the cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in Tanapag village. Both agencies “endangered the health, safety and welfare of the people of the Commonwealth” as they failed to clean up Tanapag, a northern coastal village in Saipan, following the federal standards, the report said.

FBI exposes mafia-like group
[/B] Federal authorities have uncovered a mafia-like group that operates an illegal casino in Garapan and resorts to physical violence and intimidation using guns and sticks to collect on high-interest loans owed by the establishment’s patrons. The Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered the existence of the illegal casino and its extortionary methods with the arrest of two Chinese men.

Janet King will be resigning from her post as resident head of the Tinian Department of Labor to pursue a law degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law. King confirmed in an e-mail interview yesterday that she will be resigning from her job effective August 8. King, a former Miss Northern Ma-rianas Universe 2001, took over as resident department head of the Labor Department on Tinian in May 2002.