FLASHBACK – Feb. 14, 2012

Pierce appointed liaison to House committee[/B]

Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Lynn Knight has appointed board director Richard A. Pierce to work with the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Relations in his capacity as co-chairman of the Government Relations Committee. In a letter to House Speaker Benigno Fitial, Ms. Knight said the Chamber remains committed to assist the lawmakers in their efforts to improve the CNMI-Federal relations and informing the U.S. lawmakers about the island’s position on important economic issues.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has rejected a request from the Philippine Consulate here for a Guam-only, single entry visa waiver for Filipino accountants taking the CPA certifying board examination in the territory in May. This was learned from Consul Julia Heidemann who said Saturday her office will coordinate with Capitol Hill for possible arrangements that can be made to allow Filipino accountants in the CNMI take the board examination in May. According to Heidemann, INS officials cited existing policies relating to the granting of U.S. visa to foreign nationals which require application and processing on their point of origin.

SGMA gearing up for complete accreditation[/B]

In preparation for association membership accreditation by internationally recognized independent monitoring groups, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association will conduct its last round of intensive training before the full implementation of its Code of Conduct. A Code of Conduct Training Conference will be held from March 5-7, 2001, where all 31 SGMA member companies will receive instruction from both local and federal officials and private companies. Presenters will include officials from Region IX, US Department of Labor-OSHA Division, US Department of Labor-Wage & Hour Compliance Division, the CNMI Department of Public Safety’s Fire Division, the Division of Environmental Quality, 3M Corporation and Safety 1st Systems (Saipan), Inc.

Average quarterly loans approved by the Commonwealth Development Authority dropped 75 percent in 2000 compared with the volume of credit applications okayed during the previous year. A record of CDA loans compiled by the Central Statistics Division revealed the government’s prime lending agency released only a quarterly average of $428,341 amount of credits last year, from the average $1.625 per three-month period in 1999. CDA approved only about $60,000 worth of credit applications in the third quarter of 2000; $1.062 million during the April-June period; and some $163,500 in the first three months of last year.

PCB treatment resumes but not without EPA restrictions[/B]

The US Environmental Protection Agency has imposed certain restrictions on the treatment of PCB-contaminated soil in Tanapag, allegedly slowing down the process that resumed this week. Michelle Rogow, of EPA Region IX, said the operation by the ITD machine was allowed to continue at a much lower rate, while the treatment is being considered for final approval. From the previous 16 tons of soil treated per hour, the maximum amount of soil that can be treated in a given hour now is 13 tons. In a telephone interview, Rogow said the Army Corps and its contractor may only treat up to 7,500 tons of soil, pending EPA’s final approval.

The debate over freedom of speech or censorship of pornography has been raging for many decades now. The abundance of pornographic material on the Internet has only served to add to the controversy of this question. With the emergence of this material on the Internet, pornography has become more prevalent and available than it ever has been before. This being said the issue grows among those that feel censorship is necessary, such as groups that feel freedom of speech and expression are paramount and as a result are against censorship. A new facet of this issue has emerged which is the protection of children. Many people believe that regardless of whether pornographic material is censored for adults on the Internet, the society has a duty to protect the children using the Internet, as this material is so easily viewed.