FLASHBACK – April 21, 2012

April 21, 2000

Plan to restructure MVA Board opposed

The Marianas Visitors Authority has opposed a proposed measure which would change the structure of the board of directors reducing the number of members that will be appointed by the governor because it is unconstitutional and in violation of the CNMI public policy. Currently, five members of the board are appointed by the governor while the four remaining members are elected by the MVA tourism industry members. In a letter sent to Rep. Dino M. Jones, MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio said MVA was created in conformance with Public Law 11-15 which declared the Authority as a public corporation.

CPA not compromising safety over noise concerns

The Commonwealth Ports Authority yesterday stood pat against proposals to change flight altitude of aircraft flying between Saipan and Tinian because doing so would compromise the safety of passengers, according to Executive Director Carlos H. Salas. Mr. Salas was reacting on a concern raised by lawyer Michael A. White, who asked the ports authority to require aircraft passing between Saipan and Tinian to fly at a higher altitude to minimize the noise level generated by the altered flight pattern. “CPA has changed the take off and landing pattern at the Saipan International Airport, this causes them to pass directly over my house, the altitude means considerable noise during their passage, it is disturbing and obtrusive,” the lawyer said.

April 21, 2003

NMI gets $435K from tobacco firms

Attorney General Ramona Manglona disclosed that the CNMI was to receive some $435,000 from Philip Morris and other tobacco manufacturers last week, in accordance with the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Under the agreement, the tobacco companies are to pay several states and territories annual payments in perpetuity. According to Manglona, the payments are estimated to total around $206 billion by 2025. “This is excellent news,” said Manglona in a press statement, adding that the payment was timely. In the statement, the CNMI’s chief lawyer said Philip Morris honored its obligation, posting the fund to a Citibank account last week. The total amount is a combined payment of Philip Morris and other tobacco manufacturers that are signatories to the agreement.

’NMC audit fiasco not due to former auditor’

Contrary to what people may have perceived, the deficient audit reports of the Northern Marianas College did not stem from any mistake made by its former auditor but due to a mistake by the college during its submission of audit reports to the accrediting body and the federal government. This was clarified by NMC president Kenneth E. Wright, soon after the NMC’s former auditor confronted him over the “negative” audit reports at the college, which apparently resulted in the auditing firm getting a seemingly unfavorable feedback from the public. Wright said the NMC’s former auditor, Magliari and Company, made “a little protest” following the awarding of an auditing contract to a new firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

April 21, 2004

Labor mulls exit requirement for alien workers

If plans push through, all nonresident workers in the CNMI would be required to exit the islands after each contract termination or expiration, regardless if the employer plans to renew the contract of the worker or not. Those who would be renewed by the same employer or those getting new contracts with another employer would still be required to leave the Commonwealth and come back when applications are approved. On the other hand, the Department of Labor is planning to authorize contract employments of up to five years.

Proposed museum eyed as major Garapan attraction

The CNMI government is mulling the creation of a new museum within a wetland in Garapan, which will become a major tourist attraction in line with the Garapan Revitalization Project. The CNMI Museum Cultural Center would be put up at the location of the former Nakamoto Hotel project between the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach and the Hafa Adai Hotel, CNMI management special assistant Chuck Jordan said. “This site is probably one of the best preserved sites in the Marianas, including Guam,” Jordan said. He said some 280 bodies were exhumed from the site, while the Historic Preservation Office also had other discoveries of historical and archeological significance.