Flashback — May 1999 – 2003

DOF asked to probe prepaid phone cards
[/B] Lawmakers have asked the Department of Finance to clamp down on unlicensed businesses selling prepaid phone cards and operating remittance service in the Commonwealth which proliferation have resulted in huge losses in revenues for the cash-strapped government. Rep. David M. Apatang, chair of the House committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications, has instructed the DOF to investigate the proliferation of these companies for possible violations of existing tax laws. He has met with officials of the Revenue and Taxation Division as well executives of major telecommunication firms in the island to discuss the problems that have grown in recent months due to absence of laws to regulate the two business fields.

The House of Representatives yesterday moved closer to voting on a proposal scrapping housing benefits to all public sector employees, including those recruited from the mainland, in efforts to reduce expenditures of the government by at least $2 million annually. Offered by Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, the initial bill was overhauled by the House committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations which removed a separate proposal imposing salary caps. In its report adopted by the House at yesterday’s session, the committee said the housing benefits granted to some government employees is “unnecessary, costly, discriminatory and subject to abuse.”

Lang to CUC: Force govt to pay bills[/B]

Warning that the mounting utility bills incurred by the government is hurting the image of the CNMI to potential investors and financial institutions, former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio has urged anew the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to pressure the present administration to settle its $12 million debt. Amid its crucial action on the controversial Saipan power project, the CUC board is again a target of criticisms from the former governor over its handling of the government’s outstanding balance and the request for discounted power rate by the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

Three top bidders on the long-delayed power project on Saipan will have the chance to win the $120 million contract as the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation starts its negotiations with each of them after today’s highly anticipated board decision. Six board directors of the government-owned utility corporation are expected to voice their votes on the fate of the proposed 80-megawatt power plant — a move that will bring the project to its next phase almost three years since its procurement began. The board is likely to “temporarily” award the lucrative contract to three highest-ranking proposers: Enron, the Tomen Consortium and the Saipan Power Partners/Hawaiian Electric Inc., according to a source privy to the current discussion.
[B] May 26, 2003

NMI, Guam hold conference call on SARS[/B]

CNMI Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio and Guam Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo held a telephone conference call last May 22 for health officials from Guam and the CNMI with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. to discuss federal and local preparedness for an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. “The primary purpose of this call was to provide an opportunity for local officials to raise concerns regarding SARS with federal health officials and to discuss the resources available to Guam and the CNMI in the event of an outbreak,” said Bordallo.

Northern Marianas College president Kenneth Wright described as “absurd” the discrimination lawsuit that was filed against him by a former NMC director. “It’s an absurd accusation,” said Wright when asked to comment on the suit filed against him by terminated NMC director Jack Angello. The case is with the federal court. “It’s a lawsuit that accuses me of discrimination. The person filing the case is male, 56 years old, and white. I’m white, and older than he is, and I’m male. So its difficult for me to understand how I could have discriminated against him,” Wright said, adding that he is ready to defend himself in court.