Flashback December 15, 1999-2001

Nielsen’s resignation sought[/B]

Visibly irked over refusal to reimburse expenditures incurred from community contributions, Rep. Melvin O. Faisao yesterday called on Finance Sec. Lucy DLG Nielsen to step down if she doesn’t see it fit to comply with provisions of the law.

“If she wants it her own way, resign and run for [Legislature] so she can define the meaning of ’public purpose’,” he said during a House session.

Mr. Faisao’s complaints stemmed from alleged refusal by the Department of Finance to pay about $290 in tent rentals charged by the representative to his legislative account. Ms. Nielsen could not be reached for comment on his allegations.

Sale of alcoholic beverages will be extended by two hours during the celebration of the new millennium in licensed establishments under the Class-3 on-sale licensees, according to Commerce Sec. Frankie B. Villanueva.

These extended hours to 4am beyond the regular 2am limit will only start on the evening of Dec. 31 until early morning of Jan. 1 based on the declaration made by the government yesterday.

OPA wants MHS principal probed[/B]

Public Auditor Leo L. LaMotte is asking the Public School System to immediately look into the possible involvement of Marianas High School Principal James Denight in the alleged irregularities on the purchase of supplies and services using a special trust fund.

Mr. LaMotte also urged the PSS to seriously consider the enforcement of employment sanctions against the custodian of the MHS Food Court, a locally-established food service program, for violating the ethics provision of the System’s procurement rules.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has reminded public officials against subjecting their subordinates to political pressures following a report from the Office of the Public Auditor disclosing termination of Rota local government employees who refused to support the former mayor.

In a memorandum previously issued to all government agencies, the governor warned that legal action may be taken against public officials who would consider the employees’ political affiliation in the determination of his tenure.

Mr. Tenorio cited a provision in the Commonwealth Code which prohibits the promotion, demotion or termination of public officials or employees on the basis of their political or religious actions or beliefs.

‘Food stamps for all residents'[/B]

ROTA—Mayor Benjamin Manglona disclosed Saturday that he has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to distribute food stamps to all of the island’s residents regardless of their economic status.

Manglona said this, as Rota’s Department of Lands and Natural Resources yesterday started distributing vouchers to farmers and fishermen to help them purchase seeds and agricultural supplies.

Imports to the Northern Marianas have been on a steady decline since the calendar year 1999, falling below the one-million-tonnage mark and shrinking deeper to beyond 700,000 tons by end-December 2001.

Based on the current year’s quarterly trend, the volume of imports-petroleum, cement, garment, and other consumer items-is not likely to reach last year’s tally of 695,500 tons.

The volume of Commonwealth-bound imports dropped from 1.027 million tons in calendar year 1998 to 789 tons the following year; it suffered yet another fall in the calendar year 2000 to 0.713 million tons before slipping to the below 700,000-level last year.