FLASHBACK-July 14, 2012

July 14, 2000

Ex-governor lobbies against trade bill in Congress

Former Lt. Gov. Pete A. Tenorio yesterday asked U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and leaders of the U.S. Congress to block the passage of a proposed legislation that will deny the CNMI of the privilege to use “Made in the USA” label and impose tariff on US-bound goods from the islands. The bill authored by Rep. Bill Franks of New Jersey is considered unprecedented as no US territory has ever had its products become subject to a tariff just to gain entry into the United States. Mr. Tenorio said the legislation will undermine one of the most important and fundamental economic provisions of the Covenant. If enacted into law, it will demonstrate very clearly a deliberate act of selective economic discrimination and an affront to the dignity of the people in the CNMI who continue to believe in the integrity of the United States, he added.

CDA upbeat on multiplier effect of $60M bond

The CNMI government is upbeat on the possible multiplier effect of the $60-million municipal bond that is expected to be floated either next month or in September to finance major infrastructure projects under the Section 702 of the Covenant. Development Authority Board Chair John S. Tenorio said the $60 million bond, which will be used to match federal grants for Capital Improvement Projects, may translate to over $400 million in fresh money circulating within the Northern Marianas economy in a four-year period. Mr. Tenorio said the CNMI inevitably needs these projects, citing the value of the stimulus these new infrastructure activities are anticipated to create on the local economy.

July 14, 2003

Texas firm sues for repayment of $300K loan

A Texas company has sued a local business couple to claim on unpaid disaster loans amounting to approximately $300,000. LPP Mortgage, Ltd. is running after former Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands chair Ronald D. Sablan and his wife, Maria Ana, after it acquired interest over the U.S. Small Business Administration loans. Through lawyer Bruce Mailman, the firm also sued Sy’s Corp., a local company controlled by the Sablans, which operates the Pacific Gardenia Hotel.

Workers awarded unpaid wages

Three workers were recently awarded their unpaid wages totaling over $11,000 following an order from the Department of Labor. The three were among eight workers who had filed a complaint against their employer, Shanghai Corp., which closed shop in December 2000 without complying with the terms of their contracts. Those awarded their unpaid wages and liquidated damages are Lai Mei Lian, Zhang Yun Song, and Zeng Jin Rong. Four other complainants are not entitled to a monetary award since they had been paid all their back wages in an earlier labor case settlement, hearing officer Linn H. Asper said in his July 7 order.

July 14, 2004

Tinian public land designated as govt center

Acting Gov. Joaquin Adriano yesterday signed into law a bill designating at least 10 hectares of public land on Tinian that will become the island’s centers of government offices. The law also reserves village and agricultural homestead use on some 800 hectares of public land in Kastiyu and Carolinas, which would eventually be awarded to qualified homestead applicants. “Many people on Tinian have waited too long for their village and/or agricultural homesteads and decisive action must be taken to ensure that they are afforded this fundamental right,” Adriano said.

US House passes matching req’t waiver bill

The federal bill that seeks to increase the waiver requirement on local matching funds for certain federal grants to the insular areas-including the CNMI-is now pending at the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, following its passage by the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee’s public lands and forests subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on H.R.1189, which seeks to amend current federal statute governing local matching requirement for certain federal grants. CNMI House Speaker Benigno Fitial expressed support for the measure and would submit his official position to the subcommittee, which scheduled a hearing on July 14 (U.S. time). The bill seeks to increase the waiver requirement from $200,000 to $500,000 on local matching funds for grants to the CNMI, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.