FLASHBACK – Nov. 23, 1999-2001

[B]November 23, 1999

CDA to handle SBDC[/B]

Beginning January 2000, the Commonwealth Development Authority will be handling the program, according to Jack Peters, director of the Guam-based PISBDC.

CDA Board Chair John S. Tenorio welcomed the news, as he noted that the transfer of SBDC ensures that the Northern Marianas will continue to receive federal funding for the program.

Peters said his office will only work with an organization that will ensure sound fiscal and contractual management while at the same time maintain high quality of service to the people.

[B]Continental denies side-stepping NMI in promotions
[/B] Dissatisfied with the response from Continental Airlines over the exclusion of the Northern Marianas in its promotion, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday reacted strongly by asking whether the carrier plans to continue servicing the island.

“I want Continental to say…’We don’t want to provide service to the CNMI,’ [if] that’s the way they want it,” he told reporters in an interview.

But the governor pointed out the CNMI would still want to maintain their partnership with the airline in boosting tourist traffic to the island from key destinations, particularly in Asia where most of its visitors come from.

[B]November 23, 2000

Sparks fly at NMIRF meeting[/B]

Tempers run high at the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund Board meeting yesterday as board chair Vicente C. Camacho lambasted NMIRF Administrator Juan S. Torres for what he called attempts by the latter to control the board.

The simmering conflict between Mr. Torres and Mr. Camacho over a number of administrative issues has dragged for several months now, but the board chair blew his top when they were discussing the contract of Bruce Macmillan, the Fund’s consultant.

NMIRF has hired the services of Mr. Macmillan to make sure that the accounting system of the Fund is in compliance with the Office of the Public Auditor’s recommendations.

[B]Legal woes loom over unpaid bills[/B]

The legal counsel of the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund yesterday warned the Board of Trustees that they may face a wrongful death claims due to the continuous refusal by private health providers to treat patients who are members of the CNMI Group Health Life Insurance Program.

NMIRF has appealed to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for assistance in securing some $6 million in funding so that it can retire its debt and set up the GHLI trust fund which will pave the way for the hiring of a review utilization firm.
During its monthly meeting, the board was informed that patients were being turned away by the health providers and surgeries are being canceled due to the non-payment of debt by the CNMI health insurance.

[B]November 23, 2001

Visa glitch turns off foreign students [/B]

Three foreign students, who recently found out that they possess no student visas to pursue college education in the CNMI, are seeking a tuition refund from the Eucon International College.

They claimed that the institution is incapable of providing them the services they need.

Ellen Qian, Pecky Feng and Cindy Ye, college sophomores from Shanghai, have already aired their complaints against the EIC to the State Board of Regents and the labor department.

[B]Expecting moms to get free HIV counselling, screening[/B]

All pregnant women who receive prenatal care at the Commonwealth Health Center will now also receive free counseling and screening on the human immonodeficiency virus or HIV, primarily to prevent the prenatal transmission.

At the same time, the CHC, as well as other health care providers, can now provide HIV counseling and testing to minors without the minors seeking parental consent.