Flashback September 12, 2000-2002

[B][U]September 12, 2000[/U][/B] [B]State of emergency not necessary-Teno[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday ruled out declaration of state of emergency on Saipan, which municipal officials have sought following the damages on roads and vegetation wrought by tropical storm Saomai. But he said he had instructed public works department and other government agencies to undertake a cleanup as well as to respond to the needs of the community, including possible financial assistance.

[B]NMI’s remittance industry has new player[/B]

With Filipinos comprising almost half of the total population of nonresidents in the Northern Marianas, a United-States based remittance company has opened a branch in the CNMI, joining the brewing competition in the money transfer industry here. U.S.-based UniTeller commenced remittance operations between Saipan and the Philippines last month, after obtaining a license from the CNMI government, bringing to nine the total number of money transfer companies serving Filipino workers on the island.

[B]Power outages hit Saipan[/B]

Early morning storms hit Saipan yesterday with the boom of thunder and the bang of blown electrical transformers. When the heavy rains and lightning passed over the island, a series of minor power outages were reported from Chalan Kiya to As Lito, over Capitol Hill to Kagman, and through the northern section of Saipan.

[B][U]September 12, 2001[/U][/B] [B]Washington Rep. candidates bare views on federal issues[/B]

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce kicked off its debate series on Monday, with candidates for Washington Representative not so much debating as presenting their respective stands on several issues facing the CNMI. An estimated 200-plus audience paid $20 apiece to watch Herman R. Guerrero of the Covenant Party, Pete A. Tenorio of the Republican Party, and Agnes M. McPhetres of the Democratic Party slug it out in a series of questions that were picked out by selected students from the Northern Marianas College.

[B]A worthy, sure-fire fundraiser[/B]

With an estimated earnings of $4,280-computed at $20 per person multiplied by the (more or less) 214 persons inside-Monday night’s debate between the candidates for Washington Representative proved to be a worthy fundraiser for the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. The audience was also a virtual who’s who of notable personalities on Saipan, with an almost equal sprinkling of politicians and business leaders rubbing elbows with civic personalities.

[B]Asiana mulls 5 additional flights to Saipan[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is negotiating with the Federal Aviation Administration to allow Asiana Airlines to increase the number of flights it can deploy between South Korea and Saipan. This was learned from CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, who disclosed that work is underway to pave the road for an additional of five nonstop Asiana flights to the Northern Marianas. Salas said the CPA is hoping to help lure more Korean visitors into the CNMI by maximizing the available air transport services offered by Asiana between Saipan and major cities and provinces in South Korea.

[B][U]September 12, 2002[/U][/B]

After Torres, chief prosecutor follows suit

Two weeks after Attorney General Robert Torres severed his official ties with the Babauta administration, the resigned official’s appointed Criminal Division Chief Prosecutor, Clyde Lemons Jr., followed suit and tendered his resignation last September 5 for reasons that he did not care to share with the public.

[B]Manglona: No to override action on budget vetoes[/B]

With 12 line-item vetoes in the recently enacted budget for Fiscal Year 2003, Senate President Paul A. Manglona believes that, rather than overriding them, it would be better to explore alternative responses that would result in a win-win solution for everyone. Manglo-a also underscored the importance of the passage of House Bill 13-170 now referred to as Public Law 13-24 saying both the Legislature and the Executive Branch have to be commended for achieving such a significant breakthrough in the CNMI’s spending plan.

[B]The infamous twelve[/B]

Exercising his veto powers under Article II of the CNMI Constitution, Gov. Juan N. Babauta disapproved some line items in the newly enacted Public Law 13-24 that appropriates $217 million for the government’s budget in Fiscal Year 2003. Numbering 12, these line-item vetoes, as well as the accompanying explanations and the history behind the budget that Babauta provided, resulted in a transmittal letter that was unusually thick at 15 pages. Transmittal letters to the Legislature usually range from one to at the most three pages.