FLASHBACK – October 13, 2011

Oct. 13, 1999

O’Connor says CUC should honor ’oral’ contract

Lawyer Robert O’Connor has asked the Superior Court to deny the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s motion for summary judgment against his civil lawsuit, maintaining that the agency is bound to honor an “oral contract” between him and a CUC employee. The case stemmed from CUC’s installation of a power pole on the property on Mt. Tapochau being leased by O’Connor. O’Connor, who is represented by lawyer Joseph Horey, reminded CUC that when the poles were being installed in 1996, its employee Robert Malate had agreed to move the line of power poles away from his property.

New law allows SC to tap trust funds

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law a measure allowing the Superior Court to make money out of the trust funds temporarily entrusted to the judiciary and to impose additional fines on people convicted of a criminal offense in an effort to ease pressure on government coffers. Public Law 11-105, which was requested by the Superior Court, now passes some of the financial costs to individuals who use the services of the court that are currently financed by taxpayers’ money, according to the governor. Offered by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, the new law is intended to boost the court’s resources amid shrinking appropriations from the government due to continuous financial difficulties.

Oct. 13, 2000

DOF, CUC still scrutinizing $12-M unpaid bills

The Tenorio administration is still discussing with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. its unpaid billings in a bid to reach a settlement before cutting off power and water services to government offices. Mike Sablan, the governor’s chief finance and budget advisor, disclosed yesterday about $1.15 million will be paid soon to CUC for utility billings covering a two-month period. He said the administration has been paying between $800,000 to $900,000 to cover its utility expenditures. He, however, did not indicate how much has been shaved from the government’s outstanding balance. Last month, the government-owned utility corporation demanded payment of over $12.2 million representing overdue billings since late 1997 and threatened to disconnect its services by middle of this month.

$40K allocated for arts festival

Local artists and performers scheduled to leave for New Caledonia for an arts festival this month received $40,000 yesterday from the government after their fundraising efforts failed to reach the target. The money will cover shortfall in the $100,000 charter fee charged by Continental Micronesia to fly close to 60 participants from the CNMI to the 8th Annual Festival of Pacific Arts in the capital city of Noumea. They have raised $60,000 for the event through fundraisers held in past few weeks, but organizers sought assistance from Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and lawmakers to step up to the plate as the charter fee has to be paid this week.

Oct. 13, 2002

NMI dog control bill goes to the dogs

Gov. Juan N. Babauta has vetoed a local measure that seeks to establish a dog licensing and control act for Rota, citing six errors in the bill that he said should be amended before he considers it for passage. In his transmittal letter to Rota Legislative Delegation Chair Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, Babauta said he was forced to send the bill back to the delegation without approving it in order to avoid any future challenges that might arise. “Therefore, I am returning this bill as disapproved. I look forward to receiving this bill in an amended version that I can approve at a later date,” said Babauta.

BOE adopts Reading First initiative goals

A plan envisioned to produce proficient and advanced readers among public school students gained full support from the State Board of Education Thursday, with the adoption of the Reading First Initiative goals and objectives. Under the initiative, PSS targets that, by 2008, all students will be proficient and advanced readers by the end of the school year. Also, one of the goals set by PSS is to develop teachers who are proficient in effective standards and scientifically-based reading instruction. The other goals include placing teachers appropriately based on their credentials and endorsement and ensuring full BOE support relative to reading first initiative policies and implementation.