FLASHBACK

APRIL 9, 2005

NAO VICTORIA OPEN TO PUBLIC TODAY

The magnificent replica of the Spanish ship Nao Victoria will be open for public viewing today and tomorrow to allow CNMI residents to take a glimpse of what Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century used to explore the world’s oceans and seas. The ship is a small version of a galleon, according to Dr. Andres Romero, the physician on board. He said the ship is 15 years old and has already undergone several repairs and maintenance. While the ship is docked on Saipan, he said it would also get some repairs, such as with the sails of the ship.

1.5 CENT SURCHARGE TO APPEAR ON CUC BILLS

Utility bills sent out this month will include the 1.5-cent per kilowatt hour fuel surcharge, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. announced yesterday. CUC executive director Lorraine Babauta said the fuel surcharge will apply to all utility services after Feb. 28, when the surcharge regulation became effective. CUC has carefully scrutinized all billings to ensure that the fuel surcharge is properly applied, Babauta said.

EX-STATELESS RECOGNIZED TODAY

The granting of U.S. citizenship to some 300 “stateless individuals” in the CNMI will be formally celebrated in a government-participated ceremony at American Memorial Park today. The event will be attended by top government leaders headed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Rep. Clyde K. Norita. It was Norita who authored the bill that granted the ex-stateless children permanent residency in the CNMI. The bill enabled the stateless children to remain in the CNMI while they pursued efforts to be granted U.S. citizenship.

APRIL 9, 2004

NMI BANS BETEL NUTS FROM GUAM

The CNMI is implementing an emergency regulation banning the entry of betel nuts and seedlings from Guam to prevent a disease outbreak that has already wiped out a sizable population of betel nut trees on the federal territory. Violation of the regulation entails a civil penalty ranging from $100 to $1,000; or a criminal penalty of up to $2,000 or six months imprisonment, or both. The emergency regulation became effective Wednesday. Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Seman said he instructed the Division of Agriculture’s Quarantine staff to confiscate all betel nuts coming from Guam.

APRIL 9, 2003

NMI-WIDE BRIEFING ON SARS LAUNCHED

CNMI public health officials flew to Rota yesterday to hold medical and logistical briefings about the fast-spreading deadly disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. “They are holding these briefings on Rota and Tinian to educate and best prepare our communities,” said acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente yesterday. The team, which met with local government authorities on Rota, was headed by Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider and medical director Dr. Richard Brostrom who also heads the CNMI SARS Response and Preparedness team.

APRIL 9, 2002

HOTEL INDUSTRY SLOWLY PICKING UP

The CNMI hotel industry recorded a slow but steady growth in the first three months of 2002, a positive indicator that the tourism industry is beginning to recover from the adverse effects of the September 11 attacks. The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands yesterday disclosed that hotel occupancy rate in the period covering January-March 2002 registered a slight increase from the same quarter in 2001.

2 SAVED IN SEA DISTRESS

Strong waves capsized a 14-foot homemade vessel at the Sugar Dock channel Sunday morning, washing one man to sea. The victim, Jeffrey Santos, was out on a cruise with his brother-in-law, Mario M. Reyes, when rough waves slammed into their vessel as they headed to the dock, police said. Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Pete C. Muña said the two male victims were rescued in time by police officers, 30 minutes after Reyes signaled for help by firing night and daylight flares into the sky.