Flashback October 02, 2000-2002

[B]October 02, 2000

Tinian Shipping losing over $4 million per year[/B]

The decision by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to collect a flat monthly rate of $20,000 for ferry operations between Saipan and Tinian came as a welcome news to financially-distressed Tinian Shipping & Transportation Inc. which has reported to have been incurring losses of over $4 million a year. General manager Peter Cheung said TSTI is suffering a huge financial loss of approximately $4.4 million per year in order to continue with its commitment to ferry passengers between Saipan and Tinian.

[B]Pepero-Kiyu team vows to block takeover[/B]

Hundreds of supporters of the Pepero-Kiyu team attended its dinner fundraiser held last Friday at the Diamond Hotel in which the two made a pitch on their plans, including efforts to block federal takeover attempts as well as to improve education on the islands. Lt. Gov. Jesus “Pepero” R. Sablan, who is seeking Republican nomination for governor in next month’s primary, and running-mate Senate Vice President Thomas “Kiyu” P. Villagomez took the stage as supporters cheered them on.

[B]’Misunderstanding’ triggers confusion on weapons bill[/B]

The proponent of the bill amending the gun control law to allow so-called “shooting resorts” in the CNMI has blamed “misunderstanding” as the reason for the mounting opposition drawn by the proposal. House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta, however, expressed optimism over favorable action by the Senate on the legislation, welcoming the decision by its leadership to travel to South Korea for research and inputs.

[B]October 02, 2001

LMA boys break the stereotype[/B]

The stereotype of being Linala Malawasch Academy students have virtually followed them wherever they go. Stereotypically tagged as “troublemakers,” school fights have usually been blamed on this zealous bunch of LMA boys. But when several reported gang-related fights broke out at the Hopwood Junior High School two weeks ago, guess what some of these teenagers did?

[B]Oil firms allay fears of increase in prices[/B]

Major oil suppliers assured that a possibility of an oil price hike remains farfetched, as there are enough supply of petroleum products on the islands. Shell Operations and Marketing Director Jeff Boyer disclosed that petroleum products and reserves were shipped in last week. He said the latest shipment arrived without delay and it will be sufficient for the next two months. “There is no need for alarm and there will be no price influence.”

[B]PSS expects hikes in FY02 fed grants[/B]

The Public School System is setting up new accounts for another cycle of Fiscal Year 2002 federal grants, as it anticipates slight funding increases in food services and child care grants. The PSS recently received new money for its regular grants to include funding support for Special Education, the Advance Placement Program, the Headstart Program, Robert C. Byrd scholarships, The Vocational Education Program, the Bilingual Program, Food Services and Child Care Services.

[B]October 02, 2002

EMO heads north to help Northern Islanders[/B]

Carrying boxes of assorted goods, a six-man team from the Emergency Management Office yesterday sailed to the Northern Islands to augment food supplies for residents of Agrigan and Alamagan Islands that were recently hit by Typhoon Higos. The team boarded the Kaiyu III vessel at the Smiling Cove Marina yesterday afternoon. EMO director Rudolfo Pua dispatched the team, after the agency pooled relief goods for the affected residents. The goods came from the American Red Cross and the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office based on Saipan.

[B]West Coast strike to impact garment firms[/B]

With majority of imports entering the CNMI coming from Asia, the ongoing labor dispute between shipping lines and longshoremen at 29 major Pacific ports in the West Coast would probably have a minimal impact in terms of the availability of goods in market shelves. However, each day of delay in the resolution of the strike would most likely have a heavy impact on the Commonwealth’s lone export industry-the garment manufacturing sector-which relies heavily on sea transport in delivering their finished products to their buyers in the U.S. mainland.