Flashback October 24, 2000-2003

[B]October 24, 2000[/B] [I]Deliberation on Cabrera corruption case begins[/I]

Jury deliberation began late yesterday on former Finance Sec. Antonio R. Cabrera after federal prosecutors wound up its corruption case and the defense decided not to present evidence or witnesses in the continuation of the trial in the U.S. District Court. Three government witnesses, including Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen and Public Auditor Leo L. LaMotte, testified at the last day of the trial, buttressing the prosecution’s charges of theft, misspending of public funds and bribery against the ex-Cabinet official.

[I]CPA to join U.S.-Japan talks on open skies pact[/I]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority intends to participate in a scheduled discussion on open skies agreement between the United States and Japan governments, in fresh efforts to improve Saipan’s access to the North Asian country. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas has sought the assistance of Airports Council International-North America on how the agency can actively and effectively participate in the consultation meetings slated next month in Tokyo, Japan.

[B]October 24, 2001[/B] [I]NMI’s anti-anthrax drive gains ground[/I]

With the anthrax scare sprouting in different parts of the globe, the US Department of Justice has assured the Commonwealth with federal money to upgrade its capability to combat bioterrorism. This was disclosed by Dr. Richard Brostrom, medical director of the Department of Public Health, who attended the meeting in Capitol Hill.

[I]Crisis drowning hotels in deep losses[/I]

Hotel operators warned that the worsening economic situation in the CNMI may force them to cease operations unless visitor arrivals statistics pick up in three months. In order to ward off deeper losses, a big number of major hotels in the CNMI have already started taking painful cuts in operations, which translated to manpower reduction and the closure of some facilities during idle hours.

[B]October 24, 2002[/B] [I]FAA takes over airport security[/I]

The Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport will be fully federalized on Oct. 28, when newly appointed federal security director for Saipan airport John T. Peoples takes over the helm of security screening operations at the lobby and checkpoint areas of the airport. Roll-out will begin on midnight of October 28, when federal agents and newly-hired screening officers take charge of the security measures at the airport-almost a year after the initial plan to federalize all airports across the United States.

[I]National Guard plan inches forward[/I]

The Legislature is close to finalizing a joint resolution expressing the House and the Senate’s unified stance on the need for the CNMI’s own National Guard, Rep. Martin A. Ada disclosed yesterday. Ada, the chair of the House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations, said he is working closely with his Senate counterpart in ironing out the resolution–a major step in the Commonwealth’s bid to set up a state militia.

[B]October 24, 2003[/B] [I]US report cites drug threats in NMI[/I]

The increasing availability of crystal methamphetamine and marijuana on the islands, coupled with large intelligence gaps on the local illegal drug situation, make for a significant threat to the Commonwealth, according to a new drug threat assessment report by the National Drug Intelligence Center. The report, called “Northern Mariana Islands Drug Threat Assessment” published this month, also says that organized Asian crime syndicates engaged in drug distribution and money laundering have penetrated the CNMI and are exacerbating the situation by allowing them easy access to underground banking systems.

[I]Sugar King’s son arrives on Saipan[/I]

The CNMI Museum of History and Culture welcomed to Saipan the son and grandson of Sugar King Matsue Haruji, who arrived yesterday to present the Matsue Documents Memory Album in a ceremony slated today. CNMI Museum of History and Culture chair Herman Guerrero, Friends of the Museum officer Carmen Gaskin, Ports Authority Board Chair Jose Lifoifoi and police commissioner Edward Camacho led the reception party for Matsue Hirotsugu, son of Haruji, and Keiichiro Saeki, president of the Sugar King Foundation.