FLASHBACK – DEC. 29, 2011

DEC. 29, 2000

GSM gets additional funds from MVA

With the reduction in monthly losses, the Marianas Visitors Authority Board has approved $13,000 funding for the continuation of Garapan Street Market next year. Losses in the weekly Street Market project has been reduced from $1,500 to $1,300. So far, MVA has already spent $12,400 from fiscal year October 2000 to December 2000 for entertainment and advertising. MVA earns a measly $800 a week from rentals of the concessionaires and advertisement.

DOLI sued for denying work permit

A houseworker and her employer have asked the Superior Court to declare null and void the decision by the Department of Labor and Immigration denying the employment application of the nonresident worker. In a civil suit filed through their lawyer Danilo T. Aguilar, employer Marie F. Rimorin and her houseworker Mercedes Abubo have appealed to the court to reverse the decision of DOLI and compel the labor agency to issue a nonresident worker entry permit. On July 12, 2000, Ms. Rimorin authorized and instructed Ms. Abubo to submit an application for renewal of nonresident worker’s permit and other supporting documents.

Dec. 29, 2002

CPA pins seaport expansion hopes on proposed measure

The Commonwealth Ports Authority on Friday warned that seaport revenues are unlikely to meet the target level because of the continued delay in the implementation of the Saipan seaport expansion plan due to the lack of additional land. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said the agency’s only hope is the proposed measure-now pending before the Legislature-that seeks to allow the ports authority to acquire needed public land for its planned expansion of the container yard at the Saipan harbor. Salas pointed out that House Bill 13-223, or the Port of Saipan Expansion and Development Act of 2002, would help the CPA acquire the additional land seated between the Kaiser Cement Company and the U.S. Army Reserve Office in Puerto Rico.

House backs Bush’s anti-terrorism resolve

The House of Representatives has officially adopted a position on America’s war against terrorism by offering its support to President Bush’s anti-terrorism agenda. The House membership certified its stand through House Joint Resolution 13-20, which supports Bush and the people of the United States in the fight against terrorists on the home front and throughout the world. The resolution, authored by Vice Speaker Manuel A. Tenorio, condemned the “heinous, criminal and cowardly actions by al-Qaida terrorists,” who are tagged responsible for the attacks in New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Washington and in Pennsylvania last Sept. 11, 2001.

Dec. 29, 2003

NMIRF antsy over govt’s remittances

Alarmed over information that the CNMI government would be unable to remit its $800,000 employer contribution for the Nov. 28 pay period, the NMI Retirement Fund has written to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, urging him to ensure that remittances to the Fund are kept up-to-date. The move worked-at least partially. Instead of remitting the amount on Dec. 6, the Treasury Division of the Department of Finance released the check on Dec. 16. And instead of remitting about $800,000, which is the actual amount in employer contribution due the Fund, the division only gave $500,000, according to Fund comptroller Noel Soria. This has prompted Fund board of trustees chairman Joseph Reyes to urge Fund administrator Karl T. Reyes and Soria in their last board meeting to write once more to the governor and express the Fund’s concerns.

Bordallo wants more funds in fight vs brown tree snake

Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo has introduced a measure in Congress to control and eradicate the brown tree snake on Guam and prevent its introduction to other areas in the United States, particularly in the CNMI and Hawaii. H.R.3479, also known as the proposed “Brown Tree Snake Control and Eradication Act of 2003,” has been referred to the House committees on Resources and Agriculture. It is co-sponsored by Hawaii Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case. The lower chamber is now waiting for executive comments on the bill from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior before tackling the measure.