Flashback March 24, 2000-2004

CNMI joins fight vs Internet fraud[/B]

With Northern Marianas residents accounting for big volume of imported items purchased from the mainland United States through electronic commerce, the CNMI government is joining hands with close to 20 countries in a global fight against Internet shopping scam. This effort is the largest ever international law enforcement project aimed at discouraging e-commerce swindlers from victimizing an emerging market of millions of Internet shoppers around the world.

In line with the government’s economic diversification and revitalization plans, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday underscored the value of institutionalizing academic programs aimed at developing local skills on trade and business management. Mr. Tenorio challenged Northern Marianas College officials and faculty to take aggressive steps in improving trade and vocational programs offered at the Commonwealth’s only higher-learning institution.

Fueled by the sharp increase in its earnings from non-aviation operations, last month’s revenues generated by the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s airport division jumped 11 percent to $1.1 million from year ago’s $946,179. International air transport players continue to take advantage of the Airline Incentive Program, pitching in another four percent increase in the overall airport revenues for the month ending February 29.

‘Covenant doesn’t exempt NMI from federal wire fraud'[/B]

The Covenant granting self-governance to the CNMI does not make the federal wire fraud statute inapplicable to the islands. This was how the U.S. Attorney’s Office debunked the claim of embattled senators Ricardo Atalig and Jose M. Dela Cruz that their indictments on 26 criminal counts of wire fraud and a count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud violated the Covenant’s provisions on self-government that includes independence of the CNMI Legislature. Dela Cruz’s daughter, Marjorie, also stands charged with the same offenses in federal court.

The reported number of domestic violence cases in the Northern Marianas remains less than the actual numbers due to refusal of spouses to file formal complaints against their abusive husbands. Prosecution cases against abusers remain below the actual numbers and only a few are being meted out with corresponding sentences, a report on domestic abuse in the Commonwealth disclosed.

The Department of Public Safety disclosed Friday that efforts are being undertaken to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East after coalition forces began its bombardment of Iraq Thursday last week. The police department is closely coordinating its monitoring efforts with various agencies involved in security like the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Homeland Security department.

Partial CHC privatization urged[/B]

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is pushing for the partial privatization of the Commonwealth Health Center to get the island’s lone hospital current with the business aspects of its operations. According to Chamber President Alex Sablan, a private company should take on a portion of CHC’s operations so it could concentrate on the delivery of healthcare, especially for the indigent populace.

Faced with huge losses arising from the maintenance cost of the La Fiesta shopping complex, the Northern Marianas College is asking the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to take over the operation of the mall’s power plant. In essence, the college aims to just purchase power directly from CUC. The proposal, however, was not acted on by the CUC board, which held a special meeting Monday, citing lack of information from the college.