Flashback September 27, 2000 – 2002

[B]September 27, 2000[/B] [B]US child tax credit extended to CNMI[/B]

It is going to be a real Merry Christmas for more than 3,500 families in the Northern Marianas. The United States Internal Revenue Service is now laying the groundwork for the implementation of a special tax credit given to American taxpayers who have three or more dependent children under 17 years old. Around $10 million in additional cash is expected to flow into the Commonwealth economy at least before Christmas from the implementation of the Additional Child Tax Credit Program in the CNMI, according to IRS chief for special projects Doug Rogers.
[B] Oil giant takes another round of fuel price hike[/B]

Northern Marianas motorists and car owners have been faced with higher fuel costs after oil giant Shell Marianas raised pump prices of its petroleum products by an average of six cents per gallon during the weekend. There was no word yet from market leader Mobil Oil Marianas if it would increase prices of its fuel products to the current level sold at Shell service stations throughout the islands.

[B]Feds begin disbursing back pay to 300 Eurotex workers[/B]

U.S. labor officials yesterday began disbursing partial payment of back wages owed to some 300 factory workers of Eurotex amounting to $600,000. The settlement was made possible after some of the buyers and retailers of the company sent money to ensure the continued shipment of goods, according to an official of the U.S. Department of Labor and Immigration who declined to be identified.

[B]September 27, 2001[/B] [B]Amid declining revenue, retroactive pay hike mulled[/B]

Senate leaders intend to amend the $233-million Fiscal Year 2002 budget during a special session in Tinian today to include a provision on the granting of retroactive pay hikes to government workers. Sen. Edward U. Maratita said that, as an initial step, the Senate will amend the money measure to include at least $2 million that will be used as partial payment for the retroactive salary hike of government workers.
[B] ‘No-show’ weakens hope for more federal funding[/B]

More citizens are expressing concern that Resident Representative Juan N. Babauta was in the NMI campaigning last week, rather than in Washington D.C. working for federal emergency assistance for the islands. “The role and responsibility of the Washington Representative is to protect our interests in D.C.,” said Herman R. Guerrero, Covenant Party candidate for Resident Representative. “How can the CNMI expect to get federal aid if our man in Washington is ’missing in action’.”

[B]Bomb threats becoming a fad[/B]

After the Northern Marianas College and the Garapan HeadStart, it’s now the Guma Hustisia’s turn. “There’s a bomb threat at the building. You better leave and come back later,” a panicky voice came from an alert Jovita Flores, the superior court’s clerk-of-court. “Use the front door.” Hurriedly but with presence of mind, court employees went out of the building as emergency response units from the government arrived. Just outside the front door of the building was Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan.

[B]September 27, 2002

Babauta gets $830K in grants from OIA[/B]

Approximately $800,000 in Department of the Interior grants were handed to the Governor and Resident Representative of the CNMI by David Cohen, DOI deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Insular Affairs. Taking advantage of Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s presence in Washington, D.C. this week for a variety of business, Cohen demonstrated that the Federal government would continue to work cooperatively with the CNMI to strengthen and diversify its economy.

[B]DOF reviews CUC flat rates for govt offices[/B]

In anticipation of a $5-million shortfall in utility payments for the next fiscal year, the Department of Finance is now working with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to look at the CNMI government’s utility expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. Villanueva said this involves reviewing all the flat rate charges that CUC assesses for power, water and sewer on the CNMI government “and see if the amount charged to the government for flat rates can be reevaluated again.”

[B]BoR remains undecided on Tinian University, Joy Pacific[/B]

The Board of Regents remains undecided on the licensure application of companies wanting to put up the Tinian University and the Joy Pacific International University. The Board was scheduled to decide on the pending applications during its regular meeting early this week.