FLASHBACK – Mar. 8, 2012

Governor signs bill on limit to residency[/B]

A controversial legislation seeking to limit to three consecutive years the maximum allowable period for nonresidents to work in the Northern Marianas was signed into law by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio despite strong opposition from businessmen. The new measure, designed to curb influx of alien workers and reduce the island economy’s dependence on foreign labor, mandates all guest workers to exit the Commonwealth periodically before they will be allowed to seek re-employment, a provision employers described as impractical, costly and a bane to business. Under Public Law 11-69, nonresident employees must leave the islands at the end of a three-year employment and stay outside the CNMI for a period of not less than six months.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has said he will review proposals seeking a cosharing of the cost of tapping the services of a public relations company to defend the Northern Marianas against growing media criticisms overseas. Lack of funds has tied the hands of the administration to retain prestigious law firm Preston Gates Rouvellas & Meads as it lobbyist in Washington. The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce as well as some key members of the Legislature have separately called on the government to hire a PR company in order to help refurbish the image of the Commonwealth tarnished by negative publicities.

Reyes lobbies for approval of 80MW project[/B]

Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes yesterday vowed to press approval of a bill restoring the mothballed 80-megawatt power plant on Saipan despite protests from some of the top bidders on the controversial project. If Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio vetoes the measure, he said he would drum up enough votes to override his rejection in order to push the much delayed project which has been pending for the last three years. Two leading bidders — the Tomen Consortium and the Saipan Power Partners/Hawaii Electric Inc. — have asked the governor to veto Senate Bill 12-19 due to a provision they said will eliminate competition and practically award the $120 million contract to top competitor Enron.

The total number of bankruptcies filed during the 1999 calendar year totaled 1,319,463, a decrease of 8.5 percent from the previous calendar year, when filings totaled 1,442,549, according to data released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The total number of filings for the fourth quarter of 1999 was 318,634, down 1.5 percent from the third quarter of 1999 and down nearly 10 percent from the same period a year earlier. The number of new filings in 1999 was the first year in the last four not to set a new national record for bankruptcies.

Program eyed to curb growing delinquency[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority is eyeing the institution of a program that would help curb the increasing volume of delinquent borrowers in light of worsening economic condition on the island. CDA corporate division officials will sit down today to discuss possible ways to assist borrowers cope with their financial obligation amid hard economic times. The government’s major lending arm has been swamped with concerns on the increasing delinquency rate, as well as requests from borrowers for loan restructuring to allow them more time to settle their credit. Borrowers have also started seeking advise from the development authority on how they can continue to pay their dues on time without sacrificing other basic necessities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday stressed that personal shipment of mangoes from the Philippines to the Northern Marianas and other American states and territories remains restricted to prevent the entry of pests such as the Oriental Fruit Fly. USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services and Quarantine Director Mitchell Nelson said only commercial shipments of Philippine mangoes are allowed at this point. However, this should also undergo pre-clearance processes before the mangoes are allowed entry into the U.S. and the CNMI. Recent announcements disclosed that exportation of fresh Philippine mangoes to the U.S. has been officially approved with the publication of the Final Rules of the Importation of Mangoes from the Philippines in the U.S. Federal Registrar.