FLASHBACK — March 1999-2003

Accounting firm seeks reforms[/B]

Amid efforts to diversify the CNMI economy, an economic development council composed of members from the private sector and government appointees must be established to help identify what types of industries the CNMI needs to attract, according to David Burger, director of Burger & Comer accounting firm. With the governor’s approval, the council may be given the authority to enter into long-term binding contracts with investors so that businessmen are assured of obtaining a reasonable rate of return from their investments. In order for it to be effective, membership in the council should be diversified.

Calling the Legislature anti-business, former governor Froilan C. Tenorio yesterday said CNMI lawmakers should resign for failing to assist the private sector in dealing with the economic slump. “They don’t have business staying in the Legislature. They should resign and not consider running again,” Tenorio said in an interview. “The public is paying their salaries but they are not doing anything to alleviate the situation.” According to the former CNMI leader, a number of measures passed by the Legislature have made it more difficult for businessmen to cope with the worsening economic condition in the Northern Marianas.

CNMI joins fight vs Internet fraud[/B]

With Northern Marianas residents accounting for big volume of imported items purchased from the mainland United States through electronic commerce, the CNMI government is joining hands with close to 20 countries in a global fight against Internet shopping scam. This effort is the largest ever international law enforcement project aimed at discouraging e-commerce swindlers from victimizing an emerging market of millions of Internet shoppers around the world. The project is being advanced by a strong coalition of 143 organizations from 27 countries around the world, including seven U.S. federal agencies, 49 state and local consumer protection agencies and 39 Better Business Bureaus. Internet-related auction frauds are regarded by federal authorities as the fastest-growing type of fraud in the country.

In line with the government’s economic diversification and revitalization plans, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday underscored the value of institutionalizing academic programs aimed at developing local skills on trade and business management. Mr. Tenorio challenged Northern Marianas College officials and faculty to take aggressive steps in improving trade and vocational programs offered at the Commonwealth’s only higher-learning institution. He made the call during the formal declaration of April as the Northern Marianas College Month, in accordance with its proclamation in the United States as the National Community College month.
[B] March 24, 2003

‘Covenant doesn’t exempt NMI from federal wire fraud’[/B]

The Covenant granting self-governance to the CNMI does not make the federal wire fraud statute inapplicable to the islands. This was how the U.S. Attorney’s Office debunked the claim of embattled senators Ricardo Atalig and Jose M. Dela Cruz that their indictments on 26 criminal counts of wire fraud and a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud violated the Covenant’s provisions on self-government that includes independence of the CNMI Legislature. Dela Cruz’s daughter, Marjorie, also stands charged with the same offenses in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Rice and Patrick Smith said Atalig-represented by former Senate legal counsel Stephen C. Woodruff-failed to mention that the Covenant itself provides for the applicability of federal laws, which include those in existence when the provision became effective on January 9,1978.

The reported number of domestic violence cases in the Northern Marianas remains less than the actual numbers due to refusal of spouses to file formal complaints against their abusive husbands. Prosecution cases against abusers remain below the actual numbers and only a few are being meted out with corresponding sentences, a report on domestic abuse in the Commonwealth disclosed. In year 2002, the Department of Public Safety responded to 284 domestic disturbance complaints. Of this, the Attorney General’s Office reported 135 reports received. Of the 135 reports, 87 resulted in charges filed but only 32 convictions were made as of December 31, 2002. Of the 32 convictions, only 22 resulted in any jail time for the defendant.