FLASHBACK – July 26, 2012

July 26, 2000

NMIRF asked to recover $127K from ex-CPA officials

The Public Auditor is asking the NMI Retirement Fund to recover more than $127,000 worth of retirement benefits improperly made to two former officials of the Commonwealth Ports Authority who were found to have inflated their leave and compensatory time credits to get higher pension. Although a series of hearings conducted by CPA’s Personnel Affairs Committee insisted the 2,700 compensatory time claimed by the agency’s former security chief had a factual basis, OPA maintained these were excessive and warranted. The Public Auditor has also suggested that the matter be referred to the Attorney General’s Office should the NMI Retirement Fund encounter problems in the recovery of the $126,730.06 in retirement benefits improperly paid to the two former CPA officials.

Unused CIP funds eyed for other Saipan projects

Lawmakers have sought to set aside excess funds from completed capital improvement projects on Saipan for other infrastructure plans on the island under a bill recently passed by the House of Representatives. HB 12-122, or the Capital Improvement Project Act of 2000, seeks to establish a special account for the third senatorial district for any and all CIP funds, which will then be used for its future development projects. Offered by Rep. Jesus T. Attao, it will provide reprogramming authority to the governor to shift these unexpended funds for priority projects on Saipan.

July 26, 2001

Senate defies Teno’s veto on aviation fuel tax bill

The Marianas Visitors Authority just got the equivalent of an early Christmas gift, courtesy of the Senate. The Upper Chamber flexed its muscles yesterday by overriding the veto on a bill that would set aside 100 percent of the aviation fuel tax for the MVA to fund the improvement of tourism in the Commonwealth. Besides this, House Bill 12-359 would also mandate the creation of two deputy marketing director positions: one for Rota and one for Tinian.

Bill to exempt MVA from bidding requirements filed

In a bid to further strengthen the marketing strategy of the Marianas Visitors Authority in Japan, Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano has filed a bill that would exempt the MVA from the stringent bidding requirements outlined in Commonwealth statutes. According to Adriano, he decided to file the bill after finding out that the present competitive sealed bidding procedures “unduly restricts the MVA’s urgent need to procure specialized marketing services in Japan.” Senate Bill 12-124 would primarily add a new section to Title 1, Section 7404 of the Commonwealth Code that would exempt the MVA from the bidding preference requirements, as outlined in the Code.

July 26, 2002

BoS objects to status presentation

The Bank of Saipan board of directors has aired objections to the court-approved presentations on the bank’s current status next week, raising issues of alleged due process violations against the bank owners. Lawyer David A. Mair, in a motion opposing BoS receiver Randall T. Fennell’s ex parte request for presentations, called on the court to vacate its July 22 order which scheduled the BoS reportage for July 29 and 30. The bank counsel, in asserting that the receiver’s motion should not have been granted, stated that BoS must be timely informed of factual and legal contentions to be advanced by the receiver’s contracted financial consultants prior to the presentations.

CUC to Senate: Just follow MOU

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is insisting that any bills that may be passed by the Legislature addressing the settlement of its $102 million debt with the Commonwealth Development Authority should be in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the two parties. With this in mind, CUC acting executive director Bernard P. Villagomez pointed out to Sen. Diego M. Songao that, more than House Bills 13-106 and 13-107, it is Senate Bill 13-59 that actually allows for the waiver of interest to CDA and implicitly supports the negotiated settlement. Songao is chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication. Senate Bill 13-59, a two-page measure authored by Sen. Ramon Guerrero, a former CUC executive director, approves the waiver of all the accrued interest and penalties owed by CUC to CDA on the utility firm’s loans.