Flashback October 06, 1999-2002

[B]October 06, 1999

Tinian Express sails anew
[/B] After conducting a thorough inspection of Tinian Express for six hours, U.S. Coast Guard officials flashed the go-signal for the vessel to leave Saipan Harbor at around 8:30 pm last night with some 76 passengers on board, mostly Japanese. Ferry service between Saipan and Tinian was supposed to have resumed at 5:00 pm yesterday following a court order that lifted the seizure of two vessels owned by the Tinian Shipping Company. However, the ferry schedule was delayed due to inspections aimed at ensuring the sea worthiness of the ferry.

[B]Tax incentives to FTZ investors opposed[/B]

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez yesterday expressed concern over a proposal to grant tax holiday to investors on the planned free trade zones in the Northern Marianas, saying the incentive program must be cut from 20 years to less than eight years. He said a study should be conducted by the Subcommittee on Free Trade Zone to back up the provisions in the legislation establishing these special economic sites to ensure that the Commonwealth will benefit from the plan.

[B]CNMI, OIA look for ways to settle differences on reimbursement[/B]

Local officials are working closely with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Office of Insular Affairs to reach an agreement on the reimbursement of expenditures incurred by the CNMI for sheltering and repatriating more than 600 illegal Chinese immigrants. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said payment by the federal government in connection with the Tinian operations is “forthcoming,” although he did not indicate when he expects to receive the check.

[B]October 06, 2000

Hastert urged to oppose US minimum wage in the CNMI[/B]

Saying no study has yet been made to assess the impact of extending federal minimum wage law to the CNMI, local lawmakers yesterday formally sought intervention of U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert to block attempt to press such proposal. In a resolution adopted at their session, members of the local House of Representatives prodded Mr. Hastert to oppose the application of the U.S. minimum wage to the islands.

[B]Major policy-change on DOLI’s function splits House[/B]

The House of Representatives yesterday set into motion a major change in existing policy on the processing of nonresident workers in the CNMI by diminishing government’s oversight on the contract forged with their employer on the islands. But the move drew opposition from some of the members as they expressed fear that such a change could lead to more contract disputes and labor problems besetting the island-government.

[B]DPH: Do not eat land crabs in Tanapag[/B]

The Department of Public Health yesterday asked the people to refrain from eating land crabs caught in Tanapag area as a precautionary measure after preliminary sampling results showed that five land crabs had detectable levels of polychlorinated biphenyl. DPH Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said the PCB levels in the land crabs are below the standard established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for fish. “These detectable levels, however, do approach the more conservative guidelines of U.S. EPA,”he added.

[B]October 06, 2002

Group calls for BoS rehabilitation[/B]

Bank of Saipan depositors urged the Superior Court not to allow the CNMI government to withdraw its money from the bank through the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth Development Authority. In a letter to Superior Court Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan, Save Our Savings spokesperson Anthony Pellegrino said the CDA MOU does not appear to benefit all BoS depositors, adding that the proposal will be advantageous to the CNMI government alone.

[B]BoR says background check on Wright made prior to his hiring[/B]

A comprehensive review of the performance and background of Northern Marianas College President Kenneth Wright, Ph.D., was made prior to his hiring, according to the NMC Board of Regents. Kimberly King-Hinds, in an Oct. 4 letter addressed to Saipan Rep. Stanley Torres, said the board has gained significant knowledge of the president based on his and others’ accounts.

[B]Music is a family affair[/B]

The year was 1990. Guitarist/vocalist Roger Cadua played in an all-male band called Topaz. Singer Chato Matignas jammed with an all-female musical group dubbed Cherish. Back-to-back, the entertainers performed at the now defunct Classic Disco in Garapan. Countless, impassioned musical performances later, Roger and Chato found themselves romantically drawn to each other, in a love story that eventually blossomed into a committed union.