Flashback September 19, 2000-2002

[B]September 19, 2000

Japan travel advisory: Saipan ‘dangerous’
[/B] A travel advisory issued by the Japanese government has listed the Northern Marianas, especially Saipan, as a dangerous destination for Japanese tourists due to growing crimes committed on the islands. In a travel advisory posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, it cautioned its citizens against traveling to the CNMI due to rampant crimes of robbery, murder, drug use, and smuggling.

[B]Gov’t, CUC meet to reconcile billing records[/B]

The government is disputing utility charges in some departments and agencies that are now under review by both the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Department of Finance, according to administration officials. But they wouldn’t say how much of the estimated $12.2 million that CUC has claimed they owed are being questioned, other than indicating that there would be “drastic change” in the amount once records are reconciled.

[B]Gubernatorial hopefuls snub Chamber forum[/B]

A forum organized by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce will not push through after three candidates seeking the Commonwealth’s highest post either backed out or expressed disinterest in participating in the meeting. The Chamber has scheduled for Friday the forum to coincide with its general membership meeting to allow gubernatorial hopefuls present their political and economic agenda for the Northern Marianas.

[B]September 19, 2001

Gov’t warns of drastic budget cuts[/B]

Finance Secretary Lucy DLG. Nielsen yesterday warned department heads to expect “drastic cuts” in their budgetary allowance for Fiscal Year 2002, as collections are expected to drop due to the economic crisis besetting the CNMI in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US mainland. This had Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio urging his Cabinet members to “control government expenditures” at all levels, even as the CNMI continues to reel from the effects of the terrorists attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

[B]Higher power prices loom[/B]

Consumers hooked to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation may be forced to pay higher bills once the utility firm implements a surcharge program that may levy on them the rising cost of fuel. The CUC Board of Directors, in a public hearing yesterday, adopted the recommendation of executive director Timothy Villagomez to start the research and development of a Fuel Surcharge Program, a proposal that was first brought up when the Gulf War broke out in 1990.

[B]Federal aid sought to keep NMI afloat[/B]

Senate President Paul A. Manglona said the CNMI government should also consider asking the federal government for help, in light of the possible collapse of the tourism industry brought on the by terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. Citing the assistance package that the US government is planning to grant to the airline industry in the US mainland, Manglona said the local administration should also consider tapping into this type of assistance to tide the economy over until the tourism industry picks up once more.

[B]September 19, 2002

312 govt workers face termination[/B]

About 312 government employees—including 32 division directors—are set to lose their civil service employment, after the Office of Personnel Management sent out advance termination notices to the different departments in compliance with Public Law 13-1. The Civil Service Commission, however, has opposed the move and has issued its own memorandum to the department heads, urging them to first review the OPM action with the Office of the Attorney General before taking any steps that may affect the employment status of their civil service employees.

[B]Legislature eyes own homeland security department for CNMI[/B]

The Legislature is closely following up on the national debate over President Bush’s homeland security proposal amid local plans to create the CNMI’s own version of the federal department, in the event that the measure sees passage. Rep. Martin B. Ada, chair of the House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations, yesterday disclosed that lawmakers are targeting the creation of a homeland security department, citing a great need for its presence in the Commonwealth.