Flashback – April 22, 1999-2003

[B][U]April 22, 1999[/U][/B] [B]US lawmaker lauds NMI for ability to sustain economy[/B]

US Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca) has defended the Northern Marianas against plans that would strip the islands of duty free privileges, saying such move would throw back the CNMI to dependence on federal subsidies like other US territories. “I strongly disagree that we should single out the CNMI from our other U.S. territories and deny them the duty-free status for trying to find a formula that would enable them to be less dependent on U.S. taxpayers grant,” Rohrabacher said in his Dear Colleague letter to members of Congress. His comment stems from statements by Rep. Bob Franks (R-NJ) concerning the use of “Made in USA” label in finished garments from the islands, a business practice the latter described as a threat to the apparel industry in the mainland.

[B]Gov’t to cooperate in hosting illegals[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday said his government is willing to accommodate requests by the United States to divert to the Northern Marianas vessels carrying illegal Chinese immigrants that will be captured by authorities in the future. “I have already made a commitment when I discussed this with the justice department. I have committed that we are ready to cooperate,” the governor said in an interview. But Tenorio underscored that future diversions should be for “humanitarian reasons”, easing fears among local residents that the islands would become a permanent holding area for illegals who will be apprehended in the high seas until their deportation.

[B][U]April 22, 2002[/U][/B] [B]More flights for China Air eyed[/B]

The CNMI government, together with the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the Marianas Visitors Authority, will collectively seek the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation to grant the remaining 100 flight permits for the China Southern Air. This, as Gov. Juan N. Babauta vowed to extend all necessary assistance to the MVA to cultivate the China market, which is seen to alleviate the condition of the CNMI tourism industry. Babauta and other government officials welcomed Saturday the arrival of 198 delegates led by Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, during the maiden flight of the China Southern Air Boeing 757.

[B]’Japan-US agreement will help us'[/B]

To obtain a first-hand look at how the decline in Japanese tourists have affected the local economy, a Department of Commerce delegation swung by the Northern Marianas over the weekend in a visit that they described as “action packed.” This comes on the heels of a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Japan in a bid to bring tourism activity between the two countries back up to pre-9-11 levels. According to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, that MOU will result in a bilateral agreement on trade and tourism come June or July, to which the Commonwealth has been expressly invited to attend and witness.

[B][U]April 22, 2003[/U][/B] [B]Woman patient under DPH observation[/B]

Department of Public Health officials yesterday admitted that a woman patient has been under close monitoring and her case has been referred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for immediate evaluation amid the global threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, but they stressed that they do not suspect it to be SARS. DPH officials headed by Secretary James U. Hofschneider called a press conference yesterday to vehemently deny that it has quarantined a person suspected to have been afflicted with SARS. At the same time, Hofschneider said the CDC, after consultation, ruled out it was a SARS case.

[B]CPA lauds airlines’ efforts vs SARS[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority commended airline companies servicing Saipan for implementing tighter monitoring of their passengers amid the outbreak of the deadly disease Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Carlos H. Salas, CPA executive director, noted that airliners that bring passengers in and out of the Commonwealth have been in close coordination with local aviation and health agencies to prevent the entry of any SARS carrier into the CNMI. Salas added that efforts to maintain a SARS-free Northern Marianas have become a concerted effort of local and federal agencies, and tourism industry players including airline companies that fly in and out of the Saipan International Airport.