FLASHBACK March 23, 1999-2001

DFS business slid by 30-plus percent[/B]

With the projected decline in revenue collection, the CNMI government must immediately reduce working hours to give the business sector a sense of partnership amid the financial crisis besetting the Northern Marianas, according to Marian Aldan-Pierce, president of DFS Saipan. Declining tourist arrivals and gloomy consumer outlook led DFS Saipan business to slid by more than 30 percent compared to 1997. As a result, management had to reduce the number of employees by attrition, consolidated positions, cut down on expenses to bare necessities, reduced working hours and eliminated some benefits. Although the shop’s area had expanded, management only hired 50 percent of the staff it originally planned.

The Board of Regents has unanimously approved and accepted the retirement plan (essentially a resignation) of NMC President Agnes McPhetres during the executive session held yesterday. The acceptance of the resignation came amidst calls from faculty and students urging rejection of McPhetres’ plans to retire. In the same meeting, the Board also accepted her proposal to appoint an acting president while she takes her leave in August, the press statement said. According to Chairman Manuel Sablan, the board will name the acting president in the next two weeks who will take charge of the daily operations at the Northern Marianas College. In an interview, he said the board is looking at the three incumbent vice-presidents as possible candidates for the acting post. However, interested individuals should apply for the job, he added.

AG rejects request to investigate CUC[/B]

The Attorney General’s Office has thumbed down an appeal by former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Board Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto who sought its legal opinion on her recent ouster as head of the policy-making body for possible violation of existing laws. “We don’t give opinions on matters like that,” said acting Attorney General Herb Soll in an interview yesterday. “I couldn’t take that one for obvious reason.” He said his office would not represent her if Ms. Elameto decides to bring the issue to court, adding that she should hire a private lawyer to pursue the case.

While external market forces are driving pump prices of petroleum products up, the taxation system in the Northern Marianas is putting more pressure on oil companies to sell fuel in their service stations at a higher cost. At present, the CNMI government imposes 15 percent in excise tax for every gallon of fuel. This means that car owners may have actually been paying $0.3 more per gallon of regular and premium gas whenever they would fill up. Although no comparative data from other Micronesian countries were immediately available, businessmen and commerce officials said this is way too high, thus aggravates the effects of high world prices of fuel.

Rita Inos is Fitial’s running mate[/B]

Strengthening its campaign platform to make education for all a priority, Covenant Party has chosen known educator and Public School System Commissioner Rita H. Inos to run with House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial in the November general polls. Well-placed sources from Covenant Party confirmed that Dr. Inos will run for lieutenant governor to fortify the political group’s victory in what seems to be the most hotly-contested election in the Northern Marianas. The tandem of Speaker Fitial and Dr. Inos completes the party’s program to alleviate the economic condition of the Northern Marianas through strengthened and improved access to quality education for all.

The commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau never thought he would ever be a subject of investigation by the same office that he leads. Incriminated by a court witness of his alleged participation in an illegal drug business deal, Police Captain Delbert Sablan has been placed under probe by the Department of Public Safety. Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr. ordered yesterday the start of the investigation, temporarily relieving the CIB official from his command. Pending the completion of the investigation, Mr. Sablan has been assigned directly under the Commissioner’s Office to perform administrative tasks.