FLASHBACK April 11, 2000-2002

Federal takeover threats still alive[/B]

Local lawmakers visiting Congress in Washington D.C. expressed optimism yesterday over continued CNMI control over its immigration and minimum wage, but said there are still efforts by some members that threaten such power granted to the islands. Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, who led the 10-member delegation, vowed to woo support by U.S. lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate on local programs aimed at improving the island’s labor conditions and ensuring economic growth here. Since arriving in the nation’s capital late last week, the group has met with some members of Congress and several key officials of their staff to discuss legislative issues affecting the Commonwealth.

Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino will sign today with Mandarin Airlines the charter agreement for a direct service between Taipei and Saipan in a move to boost visitor arrivals on the island. The delegation led by Hong Kong Overseas Entertainment Inc. chair Michael Kwan and Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan left for Taipei yesterday afternoon. A group of cultural dancers from the CNMI will perform during the signing ceremony to provide the Taiwanese a glimpse of the island’s culture. Mandarin Air will begin its Taipei-Saipan flight twice a week on May 1, 2000 using a B737-800 which can accommodate 158 passengers. The travel agents from Taiwan will handle the marketing of Monday flight while Tinian Dynasty will take care of the Friday flight schedule.

Saipan lost investors to Guam[/B]

The Northern Marianas has once again lost a substantial amount of investments to its neighboring island of Guam, apparently due to restrictive investment policies in the Commonwealth. Due to its restrictive investment laws, Northern Marianas has been losing potential foreign businessmen to Guam where investors can get a green card and American citizenship in five years for a minimum of $250,000 in total investments. Aside from not requiring foreign investors to post cash security deposit, Guam has also streamlined the business permit renewal process by making the licensing office perform all clearances.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation was ordered to award the multi-million 60-megawatt Saipan power plant to the next lowest bidder to jump-start the project and thwart possible legal consequences. Legislative leaders cautioned CUC officials not to waste time and begin talks with Tomen Consortium as required under the terms of Public Law 12-1. Any delay is seen to result in another possible lawsuit, which in the end will be against the best interest of the utility corporation and Commonwealth consumers. In the next 30-days, CUC should be able to wrap up negotiations with Tomen Consortium and forge a contract as stated in the existing procurement regulations.

DD Council chief sacked AGO asked to step in[/B]

Thomas J. Camacho has been fired as executive director of the CNMI Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities during an executive session of the agency’s Board of Directors Tuesday afternoon. Camacho, who has served the Council as executive director in a total of four years, was unseated by the Board on grounds of “unsatisfactory performance.” Camacho has been with the GDDC in the last nine years. Yesterday, he asked the Attorney General’s Office to investigate the legalities of the proceedings that resulted in his expulsion as executive director of the Council.

Making a decision that was described as painful, the leadership of Rota has decided to reject the “generous” offer of Global Country of Peace to invest in the island “for the sake of unity in the Commonwealth.” In a privilege speech yesterday that apparently took a majority of his colleagues by surprise, Rep. Daniel O. Quitugua disclosed that, after an evening meeting on Tuesday, he and other leaders of Rota have decided not to entertain anymore the investment offer made by the controversial meditational group. In exchange, the lawmaker pleaded with the Legislature to pass a measure that would allocate $1 million for Rota for the construction of a dialysis center-a measure that was vetoed by the previous Tenorio administration due to some technical defects.