FLASHBACK – November 21, 2011

Remittances reach $226M in 4 years[/B]

The CNMI has been witnessing significant growth in the volume of greenback being sent out of the Commonwealth each year beginning 1997, primarily because more than half of the islands’ workforce are expatriates from Asian countries. In the period covering 1996 to 1999, the commerce department reported an annual average of 9.7 percent growth rate in total remittances by nonresident workers on the islands to their families back home. According to a comprehensive report obtained from the Department of Commerce’s Banking Division, remittance transactions made by guest workers between 1996 and 1999 amounted $225.9 million, or an annual average of $56.5 million.

After concluding a series of alcohol and tobacco education sessions last week, Hopwood Junior High School students this time are devoting 50-minute class period catching up on two of the most dreaded diseases known to man: HIV and AIDS. Dr. Celia Lamkin, former HIV/AIDS specialist for the Public School System, gave 7th grade students a basic overview of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the human immunodeficiency virus, in a language commonly spoken by today’s generation of youths.

House OKs poker machines at airports[/B]

Lameduck or not, the 12th House of Representatives gave signal yesterday that it cannot be written off yet by passing a measure that would allow the Commonwealth Ports Authority to operate amusement machines at ports of entry as a revenue-generating strategy. House Bill 12-400 passed the lower chamber on first and final reading during yesterday’s special session, which was largely attended by lawmakers except for Reps. Dino M. Jones and Malua T. Peter, who were both excused. The measure, also known as The Airport and Seaport Amusement Machines Waiver Act of 2001, primarily amends the Commonwealth Code to allow the Authority to own and operate amusement machines at the CNMI’s airports and seaports as a means of generating income that would be used to improve the Commonwealth’s ports of entry.

The Babauta-Benavente Administration Transition Subcommittee membership have been selected during an orientation attended by over 120 professionals at the Kagman Community Center Monday night. The names of these professionals and the government entities that they will review have been transmitted by Governor-elect Juan N. Babauta to incumbent Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for dissemination to the applicable government agencies. Babauta and Lt. Gov.-elect Diego T. Benavente spoke to a full house of professionals who have volunteered their services to undertake comprehensive reviews of each government entity.

CPA implements more cost-cutting measures[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will implement tighter cost-cutting measures in financial year 2003 to prevent the erosion of its fiscal condition, hinting the possibility of streamlined functions at all CNMI airports. The ports authority also ordered restrictions on travel unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration-which is reimbursable-or unless the trips are to bring new businesses for the CPA or unless the travels are emergency and safety-related. A recently issued memorandum outlined the ports authority’s planned austerity measures for FY2003. As part of this new program, the CPA will intensify the collection of money it has spent on security-related projects, which are up for reimbursement with the FAA. In the last financial year, the FAA awarded the CPA some $500,000 in reimbursement for airport security-related expenses.

The CNMI’s reluctance to the proposed designation of some 2,462 hectares of Rota’s land for the preservation of the Marianas Crow centers mainly on the proposal’s would-be impact on the island’s major infrastructure projects: the unfinished Road 100 project and the designation of new homestead areas. Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero stated these concerns on behalf of CNMI leaders in a meeting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Honolulu last week. “I sat down with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife people to try to get the whole picture of what is happening,” said Guerrero, in an interview.