Flashback November 03, 2000-2003

Republicans battle in open primary[/B]

The Republican Party is hoping to persuade majority of over 13,000 registered voters in the CNMI to troop to the polls for tomorrow’s primary as the duel over who will be it’s official bet for next year’s gubernatorial election comes to an end.

Polling booths in 12 locations on the three islands will be opened between 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. to accept voters during the open primary.

GOP has deputized about 128 poll workers for the exercise. The Department of Public Safety has agreed to assist the party in maintaining peace and order around the polling places.

Party leaders said they expect to finish tabulation of the votes by Sunday and immediately announce the winners who will eventually become the Republicans’ standard bearers in the 2001 polls.

Lt. Gov. Jesus R. “Pepero” Sablan and running mate Senate Vice President Thomas P. “Kiyu” Villagomez are facing Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta and running mate Rep. Diego T. Benavente in seeking the party’s endorsement for the top CNMI elective posts.

Armed with the projected growth on the demand for more air transport services from Japan to the islands, Continental Micronesia is deploying nonstop flights between Nagoya and Saipan beginning April 1, 2001.

The airline company will use its newly-acquired 737-800 aircraft, which can accommodate a maximum of 155 passengers, in the daily Nagoya-Saipan flights.

Continental Micronesia president Bill Meehan and staff vice president of sales and promotions Walter Dias joined CNMI Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial yesterday in announcing the carrier’s resumption of direct flights from the Japanese city to Saipan.

Continental’s decision to resume the deployment of nonstop flights to and from the island was prompted by the increasing demand from travel customers in Japan, indicated by official figures recorded in recent months.

Senate seeks more public land for harbor expansion[/B]

The Senate is seeking the transfer of a 61,000- square-meter real estate property in Puerto Rico from the Marianas Public Lands Authority to the Commonwealth Ports Authority in a bid to accommodate future port expansions.

The public land, located between the Kaiser Cement and the U.S. Army Reserve facility, is seen to host future growth of Saipan’s ports industry.

Senate members made the land transfer request this week in the form of Senate Resolution 13-25 authored by Sen. Floor Leader Joaquin Adriano.

Adriano had raised concerns over the congested container yards at the Saipan seaport, which, he said, hinders the port to hold additional cargo.

He added that the overload is further compounded by the 300-foot security setback rule, which has reduced the container yard available land size from 69,925 sq. m. to 37,541.

Voters drop incumbents[/B]

It will be a tug-of-war between the ruling Republican Party and neophyte Covenant Party-only on its second election-for the leadership at the CNMI Legislature, as nine Covenant and seven GOP candidates appeared to have made it through the Nov. 1, 2003 midterm elections.

Also, almost sure to take a seat in the 14th House of Representatives are one Democrat and an independent candidate.

The CNMI Commission on Election disclosed that more than 8,000 of the Commonwealth’s 13,882 registered voters cast their vote Saturday.

Preliminary results-with only the absentee ballots yet to be tallied-also showed that only Paul A. Manglona of Rota from among the three reelectionists managed to reclaim his senate seat.