FLASHBACK November 19, 1999-2002

U.S. inspector general asked to probe SBDC[/B]

Saying that ulterior motive was behind a proposal seeking to remove the Small Business Development Center under the wings of the Northern Marianas College, Rep. Oscar M. Babauta yesterday said he would seek a probe by the U.S. Inspector General into the planned transfer of the SBDC to the Commonwealth Development Authority.

The House Commerce and Tourism Committee chairman questioned the integrity of the agency’s ex-director Jack Peters in pressing for the closure of NMC-SBDC as he noted that the move may have been motivated by a “personal vendetta” against college officials.

Backing up accusations leveled against Peters by Board of Regent Chairman Ramon A. Villagomez, Babauta disclosed that he rejected his attempt to corner a $10,000 contract involving a project being administered by NMC-SBDC due to possible duplication of work.

Commonwealth Development Authority Board Chairman John S. Tenorio yesterday said he is seeking control of the Small Business Development Center from the Northern Marianas College to make sure that federal grants are properly handled.

CDA’s concern over the local SBDC stemmed from the recent findings of an investigation that the funds given to the center is not efficiently managed by the College. Instead of losing the federal grant as much as $200,000 a year, Tenorio said, he would rather takeover management of SBDC from NMC.

The Association of Small Business Development Center National Certification Committee, through James King, had suggested that immediate steps be taken so that NMC-SBDC retains federal funding from the entire Pacific Islands SBDC Network.

Republicans rule 13th House 18-2[/B]

The CNMI Commission on Election officially certified the next set of Commonwealth leaders Saturday, after completing the tabulation of absentee ballots for the November 3 polls.

Only 716 of the 1,026 absentee ballots mailed out by the Commission on Election were sent back by off-island CNMI voters. But COE Executive Director Greg Sablan said only 635 ballots were considered valid.

The valid ballots represent about 61.8 percent of the total number of absentee ballots dispatched by the election commission. Sablan said the ballots were thoroughly reviewed and inspected prior to the official tabulation.

CHC lacks transport unit for critically ill infants[/B]

For about a year now, the Commonwealth Health Center has been lacking a special equipment to transport critically ill infants who need urgent offshore medical attention.

Denyse Calderwood, CHC Natal Intensive Care Unit chief nurse, said yesterday there has not been enough funding for the purchase and certification of the equipment, called Infant Transport System, which is used to transport infant-patients who are on life support machines.

CHC said the machine itself costs about $75,000 but getting it certified needs an additional $100,000. This certification, which is a strict airline requirement, concerns the CHC.

Some 13 CNMI patients referred to Honolulu for medical treatment continue to be entertained by various health providers, said Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, who confirmed this in a meeting with CNMI Liaison officials in Hawaii last Friday.

The Saipan senator, who was there to attend other meetings, made it a point to stop by the Liaison Office located at the Hurst Building, Ala Moana Boulevard, to check up on the status of the offshore patients, in the wake of the funding woes that has recently threatened healthcare services to government-insured patients.