FLASHBACK

MAY 11, 2005

‘Oops, wrong power button!’

A major power outage struck simultaneously across all Saipan villages around Monday midnight, after a Commonwealth Utilities Corp. employee mistakenly shut off a service station at the Lower Base power plant. The power went off at 11:30pm Monday. CUC managed to restore service to the Commonwealth Health Center and nearby areas by 1am Tuesday. The utility firm continued to turn power back on one feeder after another, until power was fully restored across the island at about 3:15am Tuesday.

Public warned of extreme case of sore eyes

Marianas Eye Institute director David Khorram, M.D., is cautioning the public about the potential outbreak of pink eye, an eye infection that is said to be worse than the typical sore eyes. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye, according to Khorram, is an infection of the outermost layer of the eye. He said the usual eye infection that people on island contracts are the ones that infect the cornea of the eyes.

MAY 11, 2004

Kagman schools shut down

Students at Kagman Elementary School and Cha Cha Oceanview Junior High School had shortened classes yesterday as school officials found it necessary to close the schools due to lack of water. According to Kagman Elementary School principal Ignacia Demapan, she needed to send the students home as the lack of water provided unsafe environments for the children and employees. The students were sent home at 1pm.

‘Labor changes unconstitutional’

The proposed changes in the Alien Workers Act of 2004 would result in the unconstitutional impairment of the right of nonresident workers to seek redress for legitimate grievances. The passage of this measure would, therefore, send a negative impression to the U.S. Congress and could affect the ongoing bid of the Northern Marianas for a non-voting delegate status to the U. S House of Representatives, according to the U.S. Labor Ombudsman Office on Saipan.

MAY 11, 2003

BoS to reopen on May 27

Bank of Saipan announced that it would reopen its Chalan Kanoa, Tinian, and Rota branches on Tuesday, May 27, 2003. Recapitalization of the Bank of Saipan is reportedly underway, while BoS officials, in a media statement issued Friday, disclosed that payments for the new stock issuances are being deposited with the BoS. A total of $2 million of new capital will be contributed prior to the bank’s opening date.

Fresh FAA funds for NMI airports

The Federal Aviation Administration approved $14.4 million in Airport Improvement Project funds for the Commonwealth Ports Authority for fiscal year 2003. This represents about 15 percent increase in allocation compared with the previous financial year’s allotment from the federal aviation agency. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the FAA and the ports authority agreed to undertake specific airport projects in FY2003 that would enhance aviation safety in the CNMI.

MAY 11, 2002

Prison project faces delay

Construction of the Commonwealth’s multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art correction facility suffered yet another delay following a protest filed by one of the project’s bidders. Assistance from the Attorney General’s Office was immediately sought by the Prison Task Force in hopes to shed light on some legal inquiries due to an anticipatory protest lodged by one of the four construction firms vying for the prison facility project.

BOE: Funds scarce for counting machines

Despite initial agreement with a US firm for the procurement of tabulation instruments, the Board of Election yesterday disclosed it is unlikely to get the needed machines in time for the November polls. In an interview, BOE Executive Director Greg Sablan said the supposed appropriation for the procurement of the computerized counting machines did not materialize.

MAY 11, 2000

PCB health screening draws 110 residents

Close to a 110 Tanapag residents have already visited the PCB village clinic since the Department of Public Health began its screening Monday. The outreach has given residents newfound assurance that their needs are finally being recognized, Dr. Richard Brostrom said yesterday afternoon, in between patients.