FLASHBACK December 2,1998-2002

Cuts await fat pay[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday opened the possibility of cutting back the salaries of highly-paid government employees in what could be the most serious cost-cutting step the cash-strapped administration might implement to deal with the deepening financial woes. According to the governor, the pay cut is part of a four-point proposal he will unveil to the Legislature in a meeting scheduled this week apparently aimed at seeking the backing of lawmakers. “I think everybody should…share some of the hardships we are facing now. One best solution will be to at least temporarily reduce (the salaries) of those earning the highest level of income,” Tenorio said in an interview, in order to avert a potential layoff in the 5,000-strong government work force.

The Board of Public Land will seek fresh proposals for the commercial development of Managaha Island to draw more participants in the multi-million tourism project despite a controversial law giving preference to local corporations, its chairman said yesterday. “The board’s decision based on the new law is to have a new request for proposals, advertise it and give everybody else the chance,” said Tomas B. Aldan, chairman of the policy-making body, as he allayed fears that Public Law 11-48 would influence the selection of the next operator of the popular tourist destination. The law, which was put in place following the Legislature’s override of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s veto of a measure favoring NMI descent to run Managaha, has triggered an uproar from businessmen seeking concession rights who felt the legislation was unfair.

CDA cuts funding to BDC[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority yesterday terminated its annual grant agreement with the Northern Marianas College’s Business Development Center which funds the graduate internship program. According to CDA Board Chair John S. Tenorio, the decision was fueled by the failure of NMC-BDC to carry out its program this year. Mr. Tenorio said he was disappointed with the outcome of the program, having attracted only three interns this year despite funding of $93,000 by CDA. The Center usually receives eight to 12 students every year from the U.S. mainland who assist BDC in helping local residents in their businesses.

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez yesterday said he supports the establishment of a center for people suffering from AIDS or infected with HIV in the Northern Marianas. The concept, similar to Guam, was suggested by Moses Saburo, the first person on the island to publicly admit that he’s infected with the AIDS-causing virus. However, such plan should be supported by the community to ensure its success and sustainability, Mr. Villagomez said. He suggested to the local AIDS Council to look at the facility in Guam to learn how it can be applied in the CNMI.

Poker firms limited to 12 hrs[/B]

Beginning Friday last week, operation hours of all poker arcades in the Commonwealth are now limited to just 12 hours daily, from 10am until 10pm, excepting those machines operating inside casinos. The Department of Finance implemented this move “on an emergency basis,” though it did not explain why in the notice it issued to all poker machine establishments in the CNMI.

Several of the 90 container drums filled with waste oil and stored on the grounds of the Plumeria Resort in San Roque have been leaking, just a few meters away from the beach-an incident that the Coastal Resources Management Office considers to be potentially catastrophic to the environment. CRMO administrator Joaquin D. Salas said enforcement officers discovered this recently after visiting the hotel, which has not even satisfied its penalty settlement obligation in connection with an oil spill in July 2001 that spread to adjacent wetlands. Salas said the agency would revise the hotel’s permit to compel it to hook up with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s power supply, since its operation of a power generator is the reason why the hotel is stocking waste oil.