FLASHBACK January 13, 1999-2003

CNMI panel won’t yield[/B]

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan, head of the CNMI 902 team, strongly hinted yesterday that the local panel will unlikely agree to Washington’s suggestion to discuss transition to federal immigration and minimum wage law as a way of addressing the concerns of the White House. The Northern Marianas and the United States are to resume bilateral talks Tuesday next week to tackle problems arising from differences in handling local labor and immigration policies. Both governments are still working out the final details of the itinerary of Edward B. Cohen, President Bill Clinton’s special representative to the consultations, and there was no indication if gaps have been narrowed down in the parameters of discussions.

A proposed bill requiring pregnant women in the Northern Marianas to undergo a mandatory AIDS test drew opposition yesterday over potential legal problem to the island government. In a hearing conducted by the House committee on Health, Education and Welfare, House Bill 11-327 may pose constitutional challenge because the provision mandating the test will infringe on individual rights, according to local officials. But committee chair Rep. Heinz Hofschneider said they would consider the recommendation before the House acts on the measure which aims to prevent the rise in cases of newborn babies infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

CUC spent $.5M for 80MW bidding[/B]

Amid the unpredictable outcome at today’s board meeting of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation on the controversial Saipan power plant, the government has already spent more than half-a-million dollars for a project that has yet to benefit the public. Based on available public documents, the much delayed project has incurred the government-owned utility corporation at least $500,000 since planning the procurement of the 80-megawatt plant nearly three years ago. This includes the study conducted by R.W. Beck recommending such size of the plant, which cost taxpayers’ money between $200,000 to $300,000.

The garment manufacturing industry has proven its might, contributing over $39 million in total revenues to the public coffers during the fiscal year 1999, a report from the Office of the Governor showed. The $39 million generated by the government from the garment certification fees during the last fiscal year was 6.68 percent higher than the previous year’s $36 million. During the period under review, the Commonwealth generated only about $19.9 million from excise taxes and at least $5.9 million from hotel occupancy tax. Income taxes were the main source of revenue for the government, contributing more than $58 million, while business gross revenue tax replenished public coffers with some $54 million.

NMI’s 1st governor concerned over economic situation[/B]

Though he is away from local politics and the government now, he remains very much concerned about the current situation and the economic standing of the Commonwealth, which he had had the first chance to govern. Carlos Camacho, the Commonwealth’s first elected governor, could only empathize with the incumbent leaders, particularly Gov. Juan N. Babauta, as he leads the CNMI through tough economic times. “I wish Gov. Babauta the best,” said Camacho in an interview Friday. “The important thing is what he is doing to rectify the problem. And I hope he puts emphasis on that.”

The Commonwealth Ports Authority said it will not agree to the conditions set by the Marianas Public Lands Authority over the proposed transfer of land titles in Puerto Rico. CPA executive director Carlos H. Salas said the CPA, is not amenable in particular to MPLA’s proposal that the ports authority remit 20 or 25 percent of its revenues in exchange of the land titles. He said this would be tantamount to diversion of CPA’s money. “The 25 percent is really a big problem. That’s diverting revenue from what it’s supposed to be. It’s like deriving revenue from the airport and using it for public works,” Salas said. “Our stand is still the same. We want these restrictions removed and we’d like the land conveyed to the CPA with no conditions.