Flashback June 16, 1999-2003

[B]June 16, 1999

Tinian moves to stop Rota’s casino plan[/B]

Tinian lawmakers will offer a legislative initiative forbidding Rota to establish its own casino operations in a move that observers believe will throw Saipan legislators right into the growing rift between the two island municipalities. Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano is set to introduce the legislation making the high-roller gambling business exclusive to Tinian in a bid to stop the Rota delegation from pressing its own initiative on the establishment of casino on the island.

[B]Hillblom Estate settles $9.5 million tax obligation[/B]

Bank of Saipan, which serves as the Executor of the Larry Hillblom Estate, yesterday turned over to the Department of Finance a $9.5 million worth of check representing payment of the Estate’s tax obligations to the government. BOS director Ben Fitial handed the check to finance officials during a simple ceremony at the Governor’s Office in Capitol Hill.

[B]CNMI to host Pacific educators summit[/B]

Educators from the Pacific will gather next month for the biggest regional academic summit which will discuss, among other things, changes in technology and how the education sector can explore and take advantage of them. “The conference will give leaders involved in education the opportunity to interact with other people and ask questions. Everybody will have the chance to share ideas and learn from one another,” said Rep. Malua T. Peter, chairman of the Pacific Education Conference 1999 organizing committee.

[B]June 16, 2000[/B] [B]Housing program failed to help poor[/B]

The current housing loan program funded by money from the Marianas Public Land Trust has failed to assist indigent or low income families of Northern Marianas descent due to high interest rates, according to Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider who is now seeking to turn around the system. He has asked for thorough review by the House of Representatives on a bill that will provide additional $3.8 million to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation to continue the program.

[B]Chamber presses for lifting of 3-year limit[/B]

Businesses yesterday emphasized to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio the urgency of creating an investment-friendly climate in the CNMI by repealing laws which hamper the growth of business in the Northern Marianas. Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Lynn Knight said representatives from different businesses pressed for the lifting of the three-year stay limit imposed on nonresident workers during a dialogue with the governor.

[B]CDA expands loan portfolio[/B]

Faced with depleting funds due to the increasing number of loan applicants, the Commonwealth Development Authority is laying the ground work for a possible expansion of its risks through partnership agreements with federal agencies. CDA Executive Director Marylou S. Ada disclosed the CNMI government controlled lending agency’s portfolio is slowly getting saturated which may soon not able to accommodate all qualified loan applications for start-up capital or supplemental funding.

[B]June 16, 2003

Landowners bugging MPLA[/B]

Delayed land payments try patience of landowners
The Marianas Public Lands Authority gets an average of 10-15 complaints a day from landowners whose lands have long been taken by the government but have not been paid yet. “We’re receiving calls from impatient landowners. Well, actually they are very patient landowners who have become frustrated,” said MPLA commissioner Henry S. Hofschneider.

[B]’CUC didn’t evaluate SK’s proposal'[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. awarded its two-year fuel supply contract to Mobil Marianas without evaluating the proposal of its lone competitor, Pacific Petroleum Corp. or the regional representative of the Korean-based SK Shipping. In an April 24 letter of CUC executive director Lorraine A. Babauta to PPC chief operating officer Richard Reddy, she said the CUC found that SK Shipping proposal was “non-responsive” to CUC’s Request for Proposal and was therefore “not susceptible to evaluation.”

[B]CRMO chief defends agency’s mandate[/B]

Coastal Resources Management Office director Joaquin D. Salas defended his agency’s existence, in the face of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ call to strip it of certain functions pertaining to coastal resources protection. In a letter to Gov. Juan N. Babauta last week, Salas said there is no need to transfer certain technical functions and funding from CRMO to DLNR as inter-agency cooperation has resulted in better achievement of the goals of government projects.