Flashback May 25, 1999-2001

Holding area on Tinian questioned[/B]

Concerned over its implication, Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), chair of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has pledged to look into the federal government’s decision to use Tinian as holding area for close to 500 illegal Chinese immigrants. This contradicts a plan by President Clinton’s Administration to strip CNMI authority over its labor and immigration standards, noting that the reason for the decision is the absence of federal laws on the island providing an asylum program to undocumented aliens, according to the senator. “If we extend the immigration laws, as one portion of the Administration wants, we will frustrate the interdiction and repatriation program being pursued by another portion of the Administration,” he said.

A legislation seeking a sweeping overhaul of the bidding regulations on government contracts to favor local firms was disapproved by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio because of the measure’s serious legal implications. While the proposal drew praise from the governor for giving local businessmen the chance to participate in government contracts as way of retaining revenues within the CNMI, he was concerned about two key provisions that would violate existing laws. In his message to the Legislature, Tenorio cited the provisions that requires a bidder to establish a local office, as well as the granting of authority to the governor and the attorney general to be the arbitrator of whether a contractor meets the required ownership percentage. The latter, he explained, “infringes on the powers of the judiciary.”

Open market policy keeps NMI consumer prices down[/B]

Despite fluctuations in consumer price index with latest figures pointing to higher price levels, the Department of Commerce believes the prevailing open market policy continues to hold basic commodities within the reach of an ordinary Northern Marianas minimum wage earner. Commerce officials said the Northern Marianas market is open enough to allow the entry of new industry players in case existing businesses are considered selling items at higher price levels. Acting Commerce Secretary David S. Palacios said counter prices of commodities sold in various CNMI stores reflect the items’ true market value although some goods are being passed on to consumers at a higher price level compared with those in other countries.
[B] Health clinics performing abortions?[/B]

Authorities are now keeping a tight watch on clinics suspected of offering abortion after the recent surprise inspection conducted by public health officials. Sources said the discovery of various medical devices which were being used illegally bolstered suspicions that many women are seeking abortion in some of these health clinics. Five health clinics were raided by a combined team from the Departments of Public Safety and Public Health and the Attorney General’s Office early this month in efforts to enforce P.L 11-40, or the Pure Food, Drug and Cosmetic Device Act of 1998. Some of these clinics were found to have been dispensing controlled substances and possessing medical devices illegally.

Consumers buying more cars than trucks[/B]

Construction of more paved roads and the relative affordability of new sedan models spurred a shift in the CNMI’s automobile preferences from trucks to cars. Commonwealth Auto Dealers’ Association figures for 2000 indicate that 52 percent of new vehicle purchases made last year were for cars, a four percent increase from the 48 percent recorded the previous year. The number of car units sold last year was 511, more than a hundred units than the 404 sold in 1999. Conversely, truck purchases witnessed a drop from about 24 percent in 1999 to 20 percent in 2000. Trucks sold last year totaled only 193 units.

The Commonwealth Development Authority expects more small businesses to avail of the agency’s Microloan Program this year. CDA Executive Director MaryLou S. Ada said microloans could even outperform its direct and guarantee loans portfolio as businesses shift their lending strategies to more conservative microloans packages in 2001. Moreover, unlike in past years when large corporations flooded CDA with their loan applications, mom-and-pop businesses are the ones queuing up for microloans.