Flashback September 02, 1999-2003

Guidelines for free trade zones OK’d[/B]

The proposed free trade zones in the Northern Marianas moved a step forward after the House of Representatives yesterday passed unanimously a measure providing the guidelines, including the creation of a government agency that will oversee the ambitious project. But the administration-backed legislation left open a plan to offer tax breaks and other incentives to potential foreign investors, citing the need to pass a separate measure that will deal with the financial component of the special economic sites.

The new class schedule for public schools on Tinian has sparked a dispute between the Public School System and Tinian teachers. PSS implemented this school year the Board of Education’s decision to stretch the daily school hours at Tinian Junior High and Tinian High School from 7:30 am to 3:20 pm.

Due to continuous harsh economic conditions on the island, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio is eyeing further cost-cutting measures he has put in place over the past 20 months to boost savings of the cash-strapped government and improve delivery of services to the community. “The austerity measures really help us because we were able to reduce all the unnecessary expenses and we have to continue providing the essential needs of the public,” he said in an interview.

Babauta wants monthly trade missions to Japan[/B]

Buoyed by the success of his Tokyo trip, Gov. Juan N. Babauta is proposing to send a trade mission to Japan on a monthly basis to make regular follow-ups on the commitments that he has obtained in terms of getting more tourists and investors from Japan to the CNMI. Describing the trip as arguably the most successful trip that he has ever taken in his entire career as an elected official, Babauta yesterday said he is so encouraged that he feels the Commonwealth should have a delegationÑboth government and privateÑgoing to Japan on a regular basis.

Bank of Saipan receiver Randall T. Fennell may be draining the bank of cash through exorbitant payments to attorneys who have connections to him, prompting the Calvo shareholders to ask the local court to block the payments and appoint a special master that will investigate the billings. The Calvos’ suspicions were raised in a pleading filed before the Superior Court Friday, through counsel Michael W. Dotts.

Labor Day goes on for workers

That about sums up the attitude of thousands of workers in the Commonwealth who celebrates Labor Day today a national holiday dedicated to the sweat and toil of workers from all sorts of professions. Hundreds of local and guest workers yesterday trooped to the pavilions along Beach Road, celebrating their day with activities such as tug-of-war, beauty pageants, karaoke singing contest and foods galore that had tables overflowing with food, drinks and beer.

NMI to ink asylum pact with DOI[/B]

Asylum seekers may finally be allowed to apply for a status in the CNMI as the government is now poised to sign an asylum agreement with the U.S. government. Gov. Juan N. Babauta, in an interview, said he is set to sign an asylum memorandum of agreement with the Department of the Interior this month.

The much-awaited construction of the supposed $10 million Saipan dialysis center may not be done on time due to a faulty design and the lack of money to rectify the problem, according to House committee on health and welfare chairman Rep. Benjamin Seman. “We discovered about it only recently, and it’s upsetting because we’ve all expected that everything is in order,” said Seman, who noted that the Legislature already reprogrammed the remaining funds from the project knowing that the contract award reached only $5.4 million.