Flashback March 21, 2000-2002

Elameto eyes suit vs CUC[/B]

Former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Board Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto has protested her ouster as head of the policy-making body as she expressed concern that the action by some members may be unconstitutional. In a sign of growing infighting within the seven-man board, she asked the Attorney General’s Office to bring the issue to court and seek a judgment on behalf of CUC and the government. Should the decision by the board to elect new officers be declared null and void, Ms. Elameto urged the governor to take actions, including their termination from the government-owned utility corporation, for breaching the laws and stepping the boundary of their duties.

Newly elected Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero yesterday vowed to institute major policy changes and revamp management in an effort to bridge its widening gap with the Legislature and the community. He also stressed that the decision to oust former Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto was made after a “thorough review” of applicable public laws and CUC regulations. “I want to make clear that this board will set the policy for the CUC, rather than the other way around,” said Mr. Guerrero in a statement released after Ms. Elameto protested the board’s action last week. (see related story)

Officials upbeat on benefits of new investment incentive law[/B]

Despite the weak rally of local businesses during the past three years, hope continues to spring eternal for the Northern Marianas economy. The Commonwealth Development Authority has started receiving inquiries and applications from foreign investors under the recently-enacted Investment Incentive Act of 2000. The inquiries are consistently coming in although crafting by CDA of the new law’s implementing guidelines are still in the final stages, said House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial in an interview yesterday. Mr. Fitial said increased number of concrete applications for the establishment of new businesses in the CNMI are anticipated to pour in once the implementing regulations are put in place.

Since its inception in 1985, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has not obtained a full cost recovery to repay the capital and accrued interest loaned by the Commonwealth Development Authority. In fact, the Department of the Interior has recommended three alternatives back in 1993 to make the utility corporation financially stable amid continued improvement programs, CUC Corporate Communication Special Advisor Pamela Mathis said. Under the evaluation and assessment report submitted by Kennedy Shaw of Louis Berger International, Inc., the financial situation of CUC requires immediate attention in terms of its cash flow, its lack of cost recovery and its inadequate financial records and budget.

Top executives from the four leading travel agencies in Japan flew in yesterday to take part in a meeting of the Tourism Strategic Planning Task Force, where they expressed optimism that the plan to bring in an additional 100,000 visitors to the CNMI this year is attainable. DFS Saipan president Marian Aldan-Pierce identified the Japanese travel executives as Shigeru Murata and Minoru Yoshida, both representing travel agency HTM-Japan; Hiromi Tsuchiya, representing JalPak; Yoshinobu Onizawa, of PMT; and Katsumi Yajima, of R and C. “They flew in just to attend the meeting at the Aqua Resort Club and then left [yesterday] evening back to Japan,” said Aldan-Pierce, who added that these officials came here to the Commonwealth at their own expense.
[B] Immunity bill being ironed out[/B]

Faced with an undetermined number of illegal aliens in the Commonwealth, the Senate committee on Resources, Economic Development and Programs is looking into proposing a measure that would seek to grant immunity to illegal aliens who voluntarily present themselves. Saying the issue is actually an economic problem, Senate President Paul Manglona disclosed that the committee, chaired by Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, is working on a bill somewhat similar to the Limited Immunity Act implemented a few years ago in the Commonwealth.