FLASHBACK

MAY 4, 2005

Unserved summons pile up at DPS

Court processes that remain unserved have now reached more than 5,000, with only two policemen tasked to do the work. About 3,000 processes pertain to traffic cases, most of them bench warrants. Because of this immense backlog, the Department of Public Safety will stop serving Superior Court processes other than criminal summons and arrest warrants effective Sunday. This will seriously hamper the activities of the judiciary, as it includes serving summons to prospective jurors and processes for civil and small claims cases.

PSS: No more funds for school opening

Education officials have stepped up their call for urgent appropriation, citing that the Public School System has no more funds to open classes in August this year. In a follow-up letter to the Legislature dated May 2, Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos and Board of Education chair Roman C. Benavente showed how their request for $700,000 in additional funding would be spent for the current fiscal year. They said they need $200,000 to pay the annual leave of 313 teachers (set at $16 per hour for 40 hours).

MAY 4, 2004

Govt fleet cards seized
At least 30 fleet cards issued by Mobil Oil Marianas to CNMI government agencies for gas purchases were confiscated beginning Friday last week due to mounting unpaid gas bills. Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig refused to specify how much the government owes Mobil Oil but he assured yesterday afternoon that a check has already been issued last week to pay off the arrears. Atalig said he would check today with the Treasury Division to confirm whether the check was issued to Mobil so that all confiscated fleet cards are returned to the proper agencies for their use.

Verizon deal OK’d

The CNMI government and Pacific Telecom Inc. have narrowed down the issues remaining to be resolved before a final resolution is reached for the purchase of Verizon’s local carrier, Micronesian Telecommunications Co. In a nine-page Final Agreed Negotiation Report submitted to the Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission by settlement officer Sean Emory Frink, the government and PTC agreed on 27 issues, including an end to inter-island long distance charges to Tinian and Rota and the retention of all Verizon employees.

MAY 4, 2003

‘Suicidal worker’ ordered deported

Fearing about potential expenses, a prospective sponsor withdrew the permit application of a nonresident worker, citing the worker’s repeated attempts to commit suicide. This led to the investigation of the sponsorship, which later turned out to be illegal. Department of Labor and Immigration hearing officer Cinta Kaipat, in an administrative order, affirmed the denial order on the permit application submitted for Rolando Malacas.

31 DPS retirees waiting for retirement payments

The House of Representatives requested the central government this week to identify $379,949 from the General Fund for the payment of retirement security and other benefits to some 31 retired employees of the Department of Public Safety. Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao initiated the request through House Resolution 13-130, which lower house members adopted Tuesday. DPS Commissioner Edward C. Camacho forwarded to Attao in early April the list of former law enforcement officers who have yet to receive their benefits, which total $379,949.55.

MAY 4, 2001

MTV Asia veejays coming to Saipan

Filipina actress and MTV Asia veejay Donita Rose will arrive on Saipan for a three-day MTV-Saipan adventure tour in conjunction with the Fourth Annual Saipan Super Custom Car Show on May 25 to 27. Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting Operations Manager Curtis J. Dancoe yesterday disclosed Donita Rose and another MTV veejay Belinda Lee, also a Filipina, will be arriving on the island as part MTV Asia’s promotional activities. About 80 million people all over Asia will witness the two MTV veejays’ Saipan tour where at least four lucky winners will be chosen to participate in various MTV Asia-sponsored activities.

Customs seize 664lbs of banned medicines

Reduction in the volume of banned medicines confiscated last month could only mean two things —people arriving on Saipan are getting more adept at hiding their contraband or the Division of Customs’ constant reminders have finally gotten across. Last month, Airport Customs seized only 224 pounds of non-English labeled pharmaceuticals, which under Pubic Law 11-40 are prohibited from entering the Commonwealth. The figure is 64 pounds less than the volume of illegal medicine confiscated in the month of March.