Flashback March 25, 2002-2004

[B]MARCH 25, 2002

‘Please give Rota a chance'[/B]

Embattled Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona-criticized by some for his support for the Global Country for World Peace, a group that has ties with meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi-spoke in defense of the group’s agenda on the island, saying it is Rota and its people that stand to benefit from the group’s projects. Surrounded by members of the group-all dressed in coats and ties-at the conference room of Saipan Mayor Juan Borja Tudela, who was also present, Manglona told reporters Friday that the group has no suspicious agenda, as it simply aims to promote world peace.

[B]Some CUC workers found using drugs[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has began subjecting its employees to drug tests, and a few employees have already yielded positive results for substance abuse. Those who have undergone the tests include meter readers, and those from the utility agency’s power distribution and power generation sections.

[B]MHS teacher is Miss CNMI Universe 2002[/B]

Intelligence and witticisms flashed throughout this year’s coronation night of the Northern Marianas beauty pageant, as three women of non-Chamorro descent bagged the top three positions in the Miss CNMI Universe 2002. Twenty-two-year-old Marianas High School teacher Virginia Gridley, a Palauan-American, took home the coveted 2002 Miss CNMI-Universe crown during Saturday’s event held at the Dai Ichi Hotel.

[B]MARCH 25, 2003

Reyes is Ms. NMI 2003[/B]

Dark horses emerged victorious during the coronation night of the 2003 Miss Northern Marianas beauty pageant at the Saipan Nikko Hotel Saturday night. With hordes of supporters rooting for their candidates, three young women bested five others in an array of competition and question-and-answer portion that gave all contestants equal and unbiased footing during the entire contest.

[B]Benavente to convene water taskforce[/B]

Lt. Governor Diego T. Benavente will soon convene the newly created taskforce on water to map out plans and strategies. “This is a major community concern. We really have to sit down and plan our course of action,” Benavente said. He said he has asked the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to provide him with all the pertinent information. “I’m expecting to get the information from agencies so we can meet as soon as possible,” he said.

[B]PIDB raises minimum loan to $20K[/B]

Members of the Pacific Islands Development Bank have decided to raise the minimum loan limit to $20,000 from the previous $2,500 to ensure more solid development projects in island communities. Yap governor Robert A. Ruecho’, who attended last Saturday’s PIDB annual meeting on Saipan, said in an interview yesterday that the change of amount was recommended and approved by representatives of the seven-member PIDB, which includes the CNMI, Guam, Yap, Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.

[B]MARCH 25, 2004

Relief for CDA borrowers pushed[/B]

The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that proposes to authorize the Commonwealth Development Authority to grant credit relief to borrowers who have defaulted on their loans with the agency’s Development Corporation Division. The legislative measure, docketed as Senate Bill 14-48, was approved on first and final reading during a session.

[B]Pell grant reimbursement status taken off soon[/B]

The Pell Grant reimbursement status of Northern Marianas College will be lifted upon its submission of three clean batches of files to the federal government, according to NMC interim president Tony Deleon Guerrero. In a report to a House panel, Deleon Guerrero said the San Francisco office of the U.S. Department of Education has assured NMC that its reimbursement status will be removed “as soon as three clean packet submissions are free of errors at the rate of 10 percent or less for the entire packet.”

[B]CUC OK’s purchase of vehicles[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has decided to purchase leased vehicles for its operational use. In a special meeting Monday, the CUC board approved the management’s request to approve the purchase of heavy equipment, which include about seven vehicles that have been on lease to CUC for five years. The lease contract for the vehicles had reportedly expired.