FLASHBACK – Feb. 9, 2012

NMC unlikely to get fund boost from user fees[/B]

Despite earlier projections that funds can be sourced from poker fees, the Northern Marianas College is not expected to receive additional appropriation for some 530 students under the government financial aid program, legislators said yesterday. Revenues amounting to $488,000 from renewal of poker licenses previously identified by the Saipan delegation are apparently not there, dashing hopes by members to supplant shortfall in NMC budget for this year. Finance officials have disclosed that the money cannot be realized for FY 1999 because the 244 poker machines had renewed their licenses even before Saipan passed a law last December that increased the fee by $2,000 for local appropriation.

To make the CNMI as an attractive destination for investors, the government should amend the current land lease term and extend it to 99 years, according to Pacific Rim Properties President Tim Goodwin. He made this proposal to the study team from the University of Guam recently formed by the Business Development Center of the Northern Marianas who will present the CNMI with an economic plan next month. His company lost the opportunity of serving a number of investors wanting to put up businesses here because of the land lease term.

Semi-private administration of SBDC programs sought[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority is finalizing preparations for its complete takeover of a federally funded program aimed at intensifying business activities in the islands through entrepreneurship and better management. CDA Board Chair John S. Tenorio bared plans to administer programs under the Small Business Development Center in close partnership with major business organizations in the Northern Marianas. According to Mr. Tenorio, increased participation of the private sector in the administration of SBDC programs, which will be completely transferred to CDA next week, would prove to be more advantageous to both the Development Authority and the program’s target groups.

Counting on the anticipated success of its first in-store branch on Saipan, Bank of Guam is already taking another step forward as it looks into clearing the road for similar branches in the near future. BOG vice president and Saipan branch manager Marcie M. Tomokane disclosed plans are now underway to set up more Bank of Guam in-store branches in the Northern Marianas. The bank’s in-store branch inside Price Costco in San Jose is its first in the CNMI. BOG introduced the new banking concept in Guam where it build the first in-store branch in Payless. “We have other areas that we are now looking at. Everything is still under study but we might open another branch in another supermarket,” Ms. Tomokane said.

CPA bares on $170M airport improvements[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is embarking on a $170 million aviation facilities upgrade on all three island terminals, envisioned to stimulate the growth of CNMI’s lagging tourism industry. Covering air transportation points on Saipan, Rota and Tinian, CPA through its 2001 to 2006 Airports Development Plan, laid out a blueprint of improvement projects targeted for completion within five years. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday described the agency’s five-year agenda as an “optimistic” plan that is anticipated to spur visitors traffic to the Commonwealth.

The budget impasse for FY2000 appropriations has been persistently preventing the Board of Election from acquiring needed computers and tabulating machine to ensure smoother holding of electoral process this November. Election Executive Director Greg Sablan yesterday disclosed that the administration and the Legislature are yet to release the requested $104,000 funding assistance despite persistent efforts of the BOE to immediately purchase needed equipment in preparation for the general election. “It is so near and yet so far, we are waiting for the green light or whether or not we’re going to receive the money for the tabulating machine,” Sablan told reporters. With the machine, tabulation will be more efficient and with lesser margin of error while the counting of ballot returns will be fast and easier, Sablan explained.