Flashback April 16, 2001-2003

Cops tossed to drug tests[/B]

Taking the cue from recent reports alleging involvement of law enforcers in illegal drug use and trade, the Department of Public Safety launched this month a random drug testing of its over 350 police officers and office personnel. The random testing was launched in response to a government-wide call to weed out public officers of officials and employees who either use or trade prohibited substances.
[B] Regaining paradise from prostitution[/B]

Saipan residents are determined to regain their beautiful island of clear waters, white sand, green and palms that they once lost to prostitution. Island residents discourage both male and female sex workers from doing their “business” here, a move they described a people’s initiative to preserve the image and reputation of Saipan as a peaceful and wholesome tourist destination.

If existing federal restrictions on use of public lands remain, the Northern Marianas may witness a grand return to subsistence livelihood which it was once known for before it became a prime tour destination. Former Covenant negotiator and lieutenant governor Pete A. Tenorio said the Northern Marianas economy will ultimately regress due to current federal statutes which act as incentive to potential land development in the CNMI.

FAA vows funding assistance for NMI’s air transport system[/B]

The Federal Aviation Administration vowed to extend all necessary assistance to the Commonwealth Ports Authority in efforts to continuously enhance the Commonwealth’s security and air transport system. FAA Regional Administrator William C. Withycombe said the agency looks forward to continuing the tradition of cooperation and partnership between them and the ports authority to ensure secure and efficient air transportation system.

To finance the anti-smoking campaign of the Governor’s Office for Youth Affairs, Special Assistant Florence Kirby is lobbying with lawmakers to amend the Master Settlement Agreement trust fund statute to allocate 20 percent of the money coming to the CNMI under the settlement agreement to her office. In line with this, Kirby said Friday that Rep. Gloria DLC. Cabrera has already pre-filed a bill that would amend Public Law 12-44-the original law that created the trust fund that would receive the $500,000 that the CNMI is supposed to get every year from tobacco makers.

Local stores caught selling butane gas or other inhalants to children should be cited, Public Safety Commissioner Edward C. Camacho asserted. “Butane and other types of gas that some kids are sniffing should not be sold by the stores to minors. And parents should not send their kids out there to buy these kinds of items,” said the DPS commissioner, alarmed over the growing incidence of butane gas abuse among school children.

‘Eliminate homestead program'[/B]

The Marianas Public Lands Authority is asking the Legislature to pass a measure that would terminate the long-running homestead program in the CNMI. MPLA commissioner Henry Hofschneider said in an interview yesterday that it is one of the options that the agency is exploring amid the scarcity of public lands.
[B] Nurses to be deployed at Saipan airport[/B]

Various government officials are now working on a plan to deploy some government nurses at the Saipan International Airport as part of the goal to effectively implement preventive measures against the entry the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome into the CNMI. The Department of Public Health, headed by Secretary James U. Hofschneider, met with Department of Labor and Immigration officials Monday to discuss the plan.
[B] Strong typhoon spares the Marianas[/B]

Typhoon Kujira spared the Northern Marianas-including Rota-just when it almost reached supertyphoon strength early Tuesday morning. By 1am, authorities discontinued the typhoon watch on Rota, although this remained on Guam. At this time, Kujira already had maximum sustained wind of 125mph with higher gusts. The National Weather Service also discontinued the typhoon watch on Guam about 7am, when Kujira’s wind strength topped 140mph.
The Emergency Management Office reported no damage in the Northern Marianas, although heavy rains and strong winds were felt on Saipan in the early morning.