Flashback — March 2000-March 2003

CPA denies discrimination charge[/B]

Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday brushed off allegations that the agency discriminated an accounts clerk of the seaport who filed a civil suit before the U.S. District Court last week. Mr. Salas said CPA has never discriminated against any of the ports authority’s employees, in reaction to the $1 million discrimination and harassment civil suit lodged by seaport accounts clerk Rudy C. Aguon. Aside from $1 million representing damages for injury, pain and suffering and emotional distress, Mr. Aguon is demanding payment for medical and incidental expenses, loss of earnings, attorney’s fees and litigation costs.

The level of revenues currently generated by the Commonwealth Ports Authority from its aviation division has started showing signs of improvement, enabling it to comply with the $20 million airport bond indenture. After several months of falling short to meeting the 125 percent debt coverage ratio requirement, CPA managed to exceed the required debt service coverage by injecting additional revenues from its airport operation during the first month of the year. A report prepared for the CPA Board of Directors disclosed the 125 percent required debt coverage ratio has been exceeded by 212 percent, with CPA posting a whooping 337 percent for the month of January 2000.
[B] Mar. 7, 2001

$2.4M earmarked for Kobler housing[/B]

Prompt completion of all 45 housing units in Koblerville is now within reach following the signing into law of a measure that appropriates $2.4 million to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation. The signing of acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan of House Bill 12-235 into Public Law 12-40 will help NMHC meet its original completion target for the Koblerville project this year, almost two years since actual construction started in 1999. Housing Executive Director Marylou S. Ada disclosed majority of the units have already been pre-qualified to interested families and that NMHC expects to officially award the units soon after construction work is completed in three months.

Bishop Thomas J. Camacho officiated a Special Mass Sunday at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in recognition of hundreds of individuals with disabilities and advocating agencies in the Commonwealth. CNMI State Independent Living Council Chair Brian Farley said the Special Mass was to celebrate the Disability Recognition Month declared earlier by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. In his remarks, Mr. Farley explained that disability is a sign of the changing times, a time to recognize that having a disability is a normal part of the human experience.

DPH assures it will pay $4.1K fine[/B]

The Department of Health is willing to pay the fine recently imposed on it by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal regulations on underground storage tanks. “We will pay. We’re here to comply with the federal rules so will do that,” said deputy secretary for public health Pete Untalan yesterday. In a statement, the EPA asked the DPH to pay a fine of $4,100 for failing to notify the Division of Environmental Quality of its underground fuel tanks, not having an adequate release detection on its underground fuel tanks and piping; and failure to replace, upgrade, or close existing substandard tank system. Dean Higuchi of the EPA’s Region IX office said four other Saipan facilities received citations for “less significant violations” of underground storage tank regulations. EPA, together with DEQ, conducted inspections of the facilities on-island.

In a privilege speech before the House yesterday, Rep. Stanley T. Torres raised objections to the Governor’s nomination of Customs and Quarantine Special Assistant Frank I. Taitano to the Civil Service Commission board. Taitano’s appointment, according to Torres, violated CNMI Code section § 8111, which states that no member of the commission may be a candidate for public office or hold an elected position or a position in the executive branch which is filled by appointment of the Governor. Reached for comment, Press Secretary Peter A. Callaghan quoted the Governor’s counsel as saying that the provision cited by Torres is outweighed by Article 20 of the Constitution, pertaining to composition and appointment of the Civil Service board.