Flashback – Jan. 2000-Jan. 2002

Jan. 25, 2000

Loans eyed to augment government scholarship

The administration has completed drafting a proposal that will set in place a new scheme to extend adequate financial assistance to local college students without putting much pressure on the depleting public coffers. The proposal is now up for review by officials of the Public School System and the Northern Marianas College, as well as members of the 12th CNMI Legislature. Forced by diminishing resources, the government has been exploring alternative ways to continue providing local college students with financial assistance while assuring that funding for other essential programs remain in place. The draft legislation is aimed at providing local college students with an education financing program that would allow them to secure guaranteed bank loans to fund school and other education-related expenses.

US census validates growth in NMI economy

The United States Department of Commerce has reported positive developments on the Commonwealth’s economy, primarily fueled by growth in the garment manufacturing industry. The Northern Mariana Islands witnessed a significant growth in the manufacturing industry in a span of five years, or between 1992 and 1997, according to the most recent economic census released by the U.S. commerce department. The number of paid manufacturing employees doubled from 6,300 to 13,700 during the period under review, disclosed the report contained in the 1997 Economic Census of Outlying Areas-CNMI.

Jan. 25, 2001

Medicaid reforms top priority for US territorial governors

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (PIDP/CPIS)-The National Governor’s Association has identified Medicaid reforms as a top Bush administration priority, according to American Samoa Governor Tauese Sunia. The reforms, if successful, would bring equal treatment to all U.S. territories, the Governor said. Under the auspices of the Territorial Governors Health Care Coalition, Tauese joined forces with the governors of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to push this issue last August with former President Clinton.

Private firms’ help eyed to identify needed labor

The Public School System will tap the assistance of various private and public agencies on the island to identify the needed labor force in hopes to sustain the growing demands of the Commonwealth. Aside from possible collaborative effort with these businesses, the school system is also looking into the effective implementation of on-the-job training program to help students gain first-hand work experiences. Acting Associate Commissioner on Secondary Education Rita A. Sablan discussed these probabilities following the recently conducted Vocational Education Training.

Jan. 25, 2002

NMI government overloaded

It has been said the CNMI government is the biggest employer in the Commonwealth. With an ungainly 4,773 employees in all, the point could not be argued. Like an ungainly ship that is sporting too many sails, the ship of state of the Commonwealth has become a top-heavy vessel that is threatening to go under as it faces the strongest typhoon yet since its birth in the early 70’s. This has prompted many critics, particularly in the private sector, to trumpet the call to start culling the herd, so to speak. By getting rid of unnecessary weight, the CNMI’s battered economic engine could still make it through the economic firestorm brought on by the Asian currency crisis and the 911 catastrophe.

CPA to ask for re-certification of Rota runway

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will ask the Federal Aviation Administration to amend the certification for the Rota International Airport to affirm the facility’s capability to accommodate larger aircraft operated by Continental Airlines. CPA Board Chair Roman S. Palacios mentioned the need to ask the FAA to re-certify the Rota airport since it can previously accommodate only smaller aircraft operated by the Pacific Island Aviation and Boeing 727-200. Palacios echoes CPA Board Member Roman Tudela’s concerns that the aviation industry should be properly informed that improvements on the Rota airport runway make it capable of accommodating aircraft that are models currently used by Continental Airlines.