FLASHBACK – Jan. 9, 2012

Jan. 9, 2001

CDA loan delinquency rate in all-time high

Slowdown in business activities during the past three years had taken its toll on the loan portfolio of the Commonwealth Development Authority which reported on Monday that delinquency rate has gone up to record-high. Although she did not disclose the specific percentage for delinquent loans, Executive Director Marylou S. Ada said the number of remiss borrowers in the last calendar year has surpassed the 20-percent mark. “It is very high. Delinquency rate was a big problem and we recognized even before that it’s going to be a problem because a lot of businesses have closed down and there’s too little money circulating around,” Ms. Ada told reporters in an interview.

Creation of tobacco settlement trust account pushed

The House of Representatives is expected to vote by this week on the measure establishing a special account to keep money received by the CNMI under the multi-billion dollar tobacco settlement agreement. Health and Welfare Committee chair Rep. Malua T. Peter, author of HB 12-290, said the government needs the legislation to set aside the payments remitted to the islands every year for future appropriation. Ms. Peter, along with Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Antonio M. Camacho, met last week with Finance Sec. Lucy DLG Nielsen to inquire what happened to the more than $800,000 already given to the CNMI since 1999.

Jan. 9, 2002

CRM lauds garment factory

The Coastal Resources Management Office commended a garment factory for complying with its enforcement action regarding the dumping of trash on a wetland in Tanapag. CRMO acting administrator Joaquin D. Salas said the American Pacific Textile Garment Factory complied with the enforcement action that imposed fine on the company for previous improper handling of thrash. The garment factory settled the $3,000-fine imposed by the CRMO. “[The] enforcement action was taken for improper handling of thrash within the garment compound and outside the retaining wall south of the garment factory which is a wetland,” Salas said in a letter to the company sent through facsimile yesterday afternoon.

Elected officials asked to file statement of assets

The Office of the Public Auditor yesterday reminded CNMI government officials that under the Government Ethics Act 8511 (c)(1), an elected Commonwealth official is required to file a Statement of Financial Interest “at the time of taking his or her oath of office.” Therefore, all elected Commonwealth officials taking oath of office on January 14, 2002 are reminded to file a Statement of Financial Interest with the Office of Public Auditor by Friday, January 11, 2002. To obtain a copy of the 2001 Statement of Financial Interest form, contact the Office of Public Auditor on the 2nd Floor of the J.E. Tenorio Bldg. in Gualo Rai, or call 234-6481/2. Copies of the 2001 Statement of Financial Interest form are also available at the OPA website at www.opacnmi.com.

Jan. 9, 2003

Female-headed families low in NMI

The number of female-headed families in the Northern Marianas remains relatively low compared to the national level, according to a recent report based on Census 2000 data. The report-Children of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Results of the 2000 Census-disclosed that about 17 percent of families with children in the CNMI were headed by female householders in 2000, lower than the national level of 22 percent. However, the total number actually increased in 2000 compared to the 1990 tally, which translates to about 1,106 female-headed families throughout the Commonwealth in 2000 from only 465, or 12 percent, in 1990.

SDA students discuss teen suicide

Students of the Saipan Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School said they were not satisfied with merely learning about the high rate of teen suicides in the CNMI at the last Youth Summit meeting. They wanted to do something with their new knowledge. “We decided to do a teen suicide conference at our school after they had attended the Youth Summit,” said Sean Maycock, vice principal and ninth grade teacher at SDA. “The whole thing was planned and coordinated by the students.” Teachers, students and two guest speakers from the Youth Affairs Office-George Cruz and Florence Kirby-gathered to further discuss what they had learned and future plans to spread awareness.