Flashback July 12, 1999-2001

[B]July 12, 1999

PSS weighs termination of Kagman school contractor[/B]

The Public School Sytem has warned to terminate the contract of Pac United Corp. if it doesn’t “shape up” and improve its work on Kagman school project, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Sources said Friday that PSS is frustrated with the pace and performance of Pac United, which is undertaking the construction of Kagman Elementary School.

[B]Teno backs delay in oversight hearing[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday backed moves by the business community to ask the U.S. Senate Energy and Resources Committee to postpone its scheduled July 27 oversight hearing on a proposed application of the Immigration and Nationality Act in the CNMI. The Commonwealth government, however, is still readying itself to testify later this month before the panel, which has jurisdiction over issues affecting U.S. insular areas and territories.

[B]Proposal to tap immigration expert axed[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday thumbed down suggestion from legislators to hire an outside immigration law expert who will assist the Commonwealth in proposing reform measures in the U.S. Congress in lieu of federal takeover legislation. “I’d rather see that legislation be introduced here in the CNMI,” he told reporters after meeting with members of the House Federal and Foreign Relations Committee where the proposal was broached.

[B]July 12, 2000

$36M needed to compensate landowners[/B]

The House Ways and Means Committee is again considering plans to compensate landowners whose properties have been acquired by the government for public use, such as for roadways and buildings, through outside borrowing, according to its chairman. Rep. Antonio M. Camacho projected funding need of at least $36 million to meet long-due obligations to hundreds of families on the islands.

[B]Seaport revenues soar 51%[/B]

Revenues generated from three sea transport facilities in the Northern Marianas increased Commonwealth Ports Authority earnings by $166,406 in May, soaring 51 percent to $490,661 from last year of the same month’s $324,255. In a report, CPA Comptroller Dave S. Demapan said the 51 percent growth in seaport operating revenues was spurred by the implementation of the new harbor fees since July 1999.

[B]CNMI urged to monitor dev’t in Asian economies[/B]

Government and business leaders should remain vigilant on the developments in major economies in the mainland Asia since these are likely to give the CNMI a peek of what is in store for the islands’ economy, according to the Department of Commerce. Commerce officials said growth and stability of the United States economy has too little impact on that of the Commonwealth’s, especially with majority of businesses on the islands still cater to foreign tourists who are mostly from Japan and South Korea.

[B]July 12, 2001

‘Stop double taxation’
[/B] Is the amount being deducted from the salary of employees by companies to cover for food and housing a form of company revenue? No, according to lawmakers at the House of Representatives, paving the way for the passage of a bill that clarified certain provisions of the Commonwealth tax laws.

[B]Incentive program reaps first fruit[/B]

The recently-implemented Investment Incentive Act yesterday reaped what could be its first fruit, through a million-dollar business proposal from a Guam-based entertainment company. Baldyga Group International, the company behind the Sand Castle Entertainment Complex in Guam, said it will invest over $1 million in the CNMI if it gets incentives under the Qualifying Tax Certificate Program.