Flashback May 20, 1999-2003

Air Nauru seeks OK to fly to Saipan[/B]

In a move to fast track the establishment of a regional airline, an official of the Republic of Palau has asked Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and key members of the CNMI Legislature to begin talks immediately on the proposal of Air Nauru to extend its service to Saipan, Palau and Manila. Sen. Santos Olikong, chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs of Palau National Congress, put forward the proposal to hold discussions in a letter sent recently to the governor, Senate President Paul A. Manglona and House Speaker Diego T. Benavente.
[B] Teno slams Stayman[/B]

Upset over the failure of the Office of Insular Affairs to inform the island government regarding the appointment of Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta as the islands’ representative to the renegotiation of the Compact deal with FAS, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday chided OIA Director Allen P. Stayman for bypassing the CNMI people. The outgoing OIA official has recently named Babauta as the Commonwealth representative to the October talks between the United States and the Freely Associated States, but the governor said it was done without consultation. “I was never informed. I was not consulted. Maybe Mr. Stayman feels he has full responsibility and authority over the CNMI,” a visibly disappointed Tenorio said in an interview.

Wilson pleads guilty in BoS case[/B]

Texas-based businessman Michael T. Wilson owned up Friday to his part in a fraud case that has spun far-reaching ramifications—from the sudden Bank of Saipan closure, to a series of lawsuits, not to mention Commonwealth-wide confusion. Wilson, 47, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Alex R. Munson to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, engaging in monetary transactions in criminally-derived property, securities fraud and false statements made to federal agents. As Wilson admitted guilt to each of the charges, the judge made him explain, in his own words, the means by which he committed the crimes.

The Bank of Saipan has petitioned the Superior Court for Randall T. Fennell’s immediate removal as temporary receiver of the embattled banking institution in fear of losing a majority of its employees, who have vowed to quit their posts if Fennell continues under such capacity. The bank’s corporate counsels filed the emergency motion late Friday in light of what they termed as “the continued dissipation of Bank resources and goodwill that has occurred and will occur, if Mr. Fennell continues as temporary receiver.” Last week, a group of disgruntled BoS employees, for the first time, publicly aired out their grievances against the receiver, saying that since the bank went under receivership, most of them were released without any clear message or directive as to their employment status.

House supports purchase of Washington Rep’s residence[/B]

The House of Representatives sees the practicality in the CNMI owning a residence for its Representative in Washington D.C., as opposed to merely renting a place like what the Commonwealth has been doing. By adopting House Joint Resolution 13-31 Monday, legislators agreed to the request made by Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio to allow his office to purchase a residence using the funds earmarked for the Resident Rep.’s housing expenses. House members acknowledged that for the last 25 years, the Commonwealth has expended over $800,000 for the housing needs of its Washington representatives.

Northern Marianas College president Kenneth Wright said the Office of the Public Auditor knew about the new accreditation standards when it investigated the college’s reorganization last year. “OPA knew about these standards. We didn’t hide anything,” said Wright, adding that these new standards are actually now being implemented by colleges. “We’re doing it now. This is based on our communication with WASC. They know that we’re implementing the rules now,” said Wright. WASC officially adopted the new standards in June 2002. Earlier, a Saipan lawmaker filed a complaint with the WASC, saying the NMC may have submitted a wrong set of accreditation standards to the OPA last year.