Flashback — May 1999 – 2003

Teno backs CUC[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday he would fight plans that would seek to reduce existing power rates for commercial and residential use in fear that such move would further hurt the local coffers by subsidizing the utility company. The Senate has put forward a legislation seeking to cut by an average of 25 percent the cost of electricity as a way of helping residents and businessmen cope with the worsening economic conditions in the islands, a proposal strongly opposed by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation. “I want to make it very specific that I am not supporting the reduction because we have to be very mindful that CUC will have to continue to operate,” the governor said. “We don’t want to see the government subsidizing CUC.”

The U.S. District Court yesterday upheld the Senate composition of three senators from each island and denied the complaint earlier filed by former Representative Torres and lawyer Jeanne Rayphand. The “one person, one vote” provided for in the Fourteenth Amendment is not a fundamental right for citizens in the CNMI. In the decision prepared by District Judges Alex R. Munson and John S. Unpincgo, and Senior Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace, the court concluded that the U.S. Congress was exercising its valid authority when it agreed to the NMI Covenant negotiators to deny Saipan voters the guarantee of the “one person, one vote” rights.

Fire hits Puerto Rico dump[/B]

Fire broke out at the Puerto Rico dump in what was considered one of the biggest blaze within the decades-old dumpsite that prompted emergency response teams from the government-including Public Works Secretary Juan S. Reyes-to rush to the site. The fire lasted about four hours even as firefighters from the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire responded to the scene. The Emergency Management Office also responded to the alarm. Piles of trash turned to ashes, but it was not immediately clear if these included hazardous wastes. Household trash is normally segregated from metals and hazardous wastes, but dump insiders said that trash may be brought up the mountain of garbage unnoticed.

As fire big enough to require the attention of emergency response teams struck the Puerto Rico dump, some Solid Waste Division employees stationed at the dumpsite complained that they were not being entitled to hazard pay. “I just hope we’re paid the hazard pay. According to the big boss, this position does not require the hazard pay,” an employee said. “Even though the position is inside the dump, [officials say] we don’t deserve the hazard pay.” Public Works Secretary Juan S. Reyes cannot be reached for interview on the allegation over the weekend. The mere fact that they stay at the dumpsite alone makes the job hazardous, the dump worker said. “No buts, ors [and] ands. Once you enter the gate, it’s already hazardous.”

OPA clears Cabrera of wrongdoing[/B]

A draft Office of the Public Auditor report has cleared Rep. Gloria DLC. Cabrera of any wrongdoing when she was photographed by the Marianas Variety playing poker at a Middle Road establishment. The two-page report obtained by Saipan Tribune said that Cabrera did not violate any provisions of the Government Ethics Code nor any other Commonwealth laws related to fraud, waste, or abuse of public funds. When asked to comment, though, Cabrera declined, saying she will only do so as soon as the House Ethics Committee, which is investigating the matter, issues its report and recommendations.

The Senate will convene to vote on convicted Rota senator Ricardo S. Atalig’s expulsion—instead of suspension—in today’s scheduled session at 1pm. The Committee on Rules and Procedure report recommending Atalig’s expulsion was reportedly ready for signatures as of yesterday. Committee Chairman and Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano expressed confidence there will be enough numbers to proceed with the expulsion action, which requires two-thirds or six votes from the Senate membership.