FLASHBACK – June 9, 2011

CNMI to host nurses’ conference[/B]

Some 100 nurses are expected to arrive here next week to attend the five-day American Pacific Nursing Leaders Council Conference, which will discuss various issues confronting the nursing profession, specifically, providing quality care within limited resources. The conference will be held as the CNMI nurses face the perennial problems of low salary, inadequate number of nursing staff and improvement in the quality of staff. With the theme “Trans-cultural Nursing in the Next Millennium,” the 21st annual nursing conference is also expected to tackle the federal programs in the Pacific Basin and cultural competence in the practice.

The Public School System missed to secure the 21st Century Grant which funding will be used to expand the Lina’la-Malawash Academy and establish community centers on Tinian and Rota. Considered as a long-shot grant, PSS was one of the over 2,000 applicants and only 176 proposals were selected based on its budget for this year. Over 400 panel members were gathered by the US Department of Education to review the proposals submitted. “It’s unfortunate but it just shows that PSS is seeking funds from whatever, even if it’s a long shot one,” said fiscal and budget officer William Matson.

PSS makes available technology funds[/B]

In efforts to keep up with global trends in advanced technology, the Public School System is striving to upgrade schools through technology literacy funds targeted to increase student achievement and performance. This summer, PSS is still waiting to award up to 79 projects to qualified school applicants. Project funds range from $5,000 to $15,000, according to Federal Programs Coordinator Bill Matson. The federal assistance funds is prioritized for schools aiming to gear up for E-rate (education rate) or professional development related to education programs using the computers and the Internet.

The proliferation of illegal substance like methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known on streets as “ice”, is fast becoming a major threat to the Northern Marianas, according to an anti-prohibited drug advocate who recently completed a six-day presentation in Palau and the Federates States of Micronesia. Narcotics investigator Lt. Ismael Aguon disclosed the widespread sale of illegal substances like “ice” on the islands has worsened due to the reported increasing number of sources. Prohibited drugs like “ice” were once popularly routed directly or indirectly from the Philippines only but has now been imported from other countries like the mainland China and Taiwan, said Lt. Aguon.

CDC: Stricter SARS inspection at NMI seaports[/B]

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants stricter implementation of measures at all CNMI seaports against the possible entry of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus. Visiting CDC deputy chief for health studies Dennis J. Christianson said in a news briefing that he would be working with local authorities in securing all ports in efforts to prevent translocation of the dreaded virus. “I’m here to help in any way I can. The CNMI has been doing great [in terms of SARS monitoring and surveillance],” he said.

The push to increase the minimum wage in the CNMI is propelled not so much by any utopian goal of alleviating the welfare of workers but because of powerful forces within the garment industry in the U.S. mainland that want to wipe out the remaining competitive advantage that local apparel manufacturers enjoy, which is its ability to offer garment products at a lower cost. Economist Dr. Muhammad Ashraf pointed this out, saying that, by increasing the local minimum wage here, it will be the U.S. mainland garment manufacturers who will actually benefit since the garment makers here in the CNMI will be forced to sell their products to mainland buyers at a higher price. At the moment, U.S.-based garment manufacturers are at a competitive disadvantage since they pay higher minimum wages, which means any product they sell will be sold at higher prices. With CNMI apparel makers able to sell their products at the same quality but at a lower cost, most U.S. buyers prefer to buy from the CNMI.