Flashback April 07, 2000-2004

[B]April 07, 2000

Ex-CPA officials paid leave credits[/B]

The previous administration of the Commonwealth Ports Authority are facing investigation by the Office of the Public Auditor for allegedly circumventing the NMI Retirement Fund Act to increase the retirement benefits of two former officials. A preliminary result of the OPA investigation disclosed that the previous CPA administration allowed the conversion of the officials’ unused compensatory time hours to sick leave for use as additional years of credited service in the computation of their retirement allotment.

[B]Battle over Hillblom estate nears end[/B]

After almost five years of fierce legal battle, the qualified heir claimants and the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation have finally agreed to settle the remaining assets of the Hillblom estate, leading to the closure of the lengthy heirship case.

[B]Senate realigns $4 million for CUC to gov’t agencies[/B]

The Senate yesterday agreed to wipe off all the $4 million set aside by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for payment of government utilities in order to hike the budget of some agencies, including the island municipalities of Rota and Tinian, under the proposed FY 2000 spending package. The budget bill finally cleared the upper house during a late afternoon session that was cut short from time to time as members went back to amend the measure passed by the House of Representatives last month.

[B]April 07, 2003

Alert up vs products, passengers from SARS areas[/B]

The CNMI authorities are said to be on high alert not only for passengers, but also for products coming from areas with cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS.
This comes even as the Pacific Daily News in Guam reported that a 9-year-old girl suspected of having contracted SARS continues to be evaluated and treated at her home where she and her family have been quarantined.

[B]’CUC in the dark about OTEC'[/B]

Saying that the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has been “left in the dark,” CUC board member Jack Borja has expressed dismay over the apparent lack of consultation on the proposed $50-million Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant on Saipan. “CUC has been left in the dark; I don’t know why but I won’t let it happen that CUC would still be in the dark,” he said, citing a recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between a private company and the Executive Branch, to which, he said, the CUC was not made privy to.

[B]Govt OKs Kagman wastewater project[/B]

Government agencies have permitted the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s proposed Kagman wastewater treatment system, allowing the utility firm to start developing the project site within three months. However, Coastal Resources Management Regulatory Agencies incorporated in the major siting permit several conditions aimed at mitigating potential environmental impacts of the project before and after actual construction work begins.

[B]April 07, 2004

Group: CNMI to get AD status[/B]

The Northern Mariana Islands will receive its Approved Destination Status next week when Gov. Juan N. Babauta meets with China National Tourism Administration officials in Beijing.

This comes amid a visit by Chinese travel agents, airline representatives, and China-based travel magazines who paid a courtesy visit to the governor to express their support to the CNMI’s effort to lure more Chinese tourist to the Commonwealth.

[B]MVA gears up for China market[/B]

With the reported Chinese government’s approval of the CNMI’s application as an accredited tourist destination, the Commonwealth’s tourism industry sees brighter months ahead-good news on top of the 15-percent growth in visitor arrivals posted in March. Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Jonas Ogren said yesterday that preparations have been going on in anticipation of China’s approval to the CNMI’s request for Approved Destination Status. Officially, though, he said he has yet to receive information if the application has actually been approved.

[B]SCC: Hiring moratorium must not continue[/B]

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce calling on the Babauta administration to fast-track efforts at improving the labor and immigration process so as not to curtail the growth of businesses in the islands. SCC President Alex Sablan in an interview said the chamber had a meaningful forum Monday with Gov. Juan N. Babauta on various labor and immigration issues, including the current moratorium in the hiring of new non-resident workers.