FLASHBACK – Apr. 30, 2012

Apr. 30, 1999

$24 million CIP projects underway

Administration officials handed over yesterday to the Legislature a new measure listing down specific capital improvement projects worth more than $24 million, including items previously vetoed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in an apparent move to please lawmakers. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Rep. Karl T. Reyes, is expected to pass the House of Representatives today during an emergency session called specifically to vote on the bill. A supplemental to an initial CIP measure signed early this month into Public Law 11-78 by the governor, the proposal will increase the total appropriation by more than $1 million from the $22.9 million earlier allocated by the Legislature.

CJPA: $1 M available for law enforcement, justice system programs

The Criminal Justice Planning Agency has announced the availability of over $1 million in federal grants intended to strengthen various programs in fighting crimes, prevention of juvenile delinquency and improvement of the justice system. A portion of the federal money was set aside for the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program, with initial funding amounting to $104,000 and supplemental endowment of at least $97,000. This program, designed at providing education, training, recreation and other rehabilitation services to youths in order to curb juvenile delinquency, can be availed by local education and law enforcement agencies, as well as private, non-profit and community-based organizations.

Apr. 30, 2001

McPhetres bats for representation in Congress

The Commonwealth is losing federal support due to lack of proper representation and the absence of effective mechanisms that will help secure grants and other opportunities for CNMI residents. Citing the need to be properly represented in the US Congress, Democratic Party’s Washington Resident Representative bet Agnes McPhetres laid down a two-point proposal to effectively promote the CNMI to the US. During a fundraising dinner Friday night at the Island Castle, Ms. McPhetres said the Office of the Resident Representative should establish internships for CNMI college students within federal agencies using existing funds and federal grants.

New law gives BOR power to restructure NMC tuition

A Senate initiative that pushed for flexibility on the part of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents to restructure student tuition and fees saw passage last week. The legislation, which gives the policymaking body discretion over the rate of tuition and other fees to be offered to students, is expected to increase NMC’s foreign student enrollment. Governor Pedro P. Tenorio inked his approval to the amended version of Postsecondary Education Act of 2000, granting BOR the authority to establish tuition and fee rates for resident and nonresident students reflective of the economic conditions in the Commonwealth.

Apr. 30, 2002

AGO awaiting Babauta’s action on salary cap issue

As far as the Attorney General’s Office is concerned, the ball is now in the administration’s court, insofar as acting on the Office of the Public Auditor’s report that some requirements were not met in giving 18 employees salaries in excess of the ceiling set by law. Attorney General Robert Torres said the OPA report recommends corrective legislation that would address conflicting statutes on personnel matter but the fact is his office is required to enforce the present laws on the books. “My purview at this point is awaiting what action will be taken by the Executive Branch or the Legislative Branch with respect to the certification and sanctioning and the scope of that action, whether it includes employees from 1998, since the enactment of Public Law 11-41, up to the current 18 employees identified in this new administration,” he said.

NMI gets $83K grant for reefs management

Gov. Juan N. Babauta officially signed the grant documents yesterday that would enable the Commonwealth to receive $83,000 from the U.S. Department of the Interior for the coral reef program of the Coastal Resources Management Office. Babauta said the additional funding was approved and awarded partly in recognition of the outstanding progress that the CNMI has made in the past several months in developing the Coral Reef Initiative, a coral reef management program. With the money, Babauta said the CRMO could carry out a number of projects that include coral reef monitoring and assessment in the Northern Islands.