FLASHBACK November 14, 2000-2003

House bars cops from confiscating driver’s license[/B]

Following scrutiny by lawmakers, the House of Representatives yesterday finally cleared legislation that will bar police officers from confiscating driver’s license when issuing citation ticket for committing a traffic violation or infraction. The move came after the lower house reviewed existing laws that have given the Department of Public Safety the power to seize the license in order to compel violators to appear in court to pay fines.

The controversial travel advisory issued by the Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September has apparently taken its toll on the CNMI tourist industry, pulling down the number of visitors ferried by Japan Airlines by 10 percent in October. However, JAL officials emphasized that intensified promotion on domestic tourism in Japan and the lack of activities on the island were the major reasons behind the plunge in the overall number of Saipan-bound Japanese travelers last month.

DPH creates bioterror task force[/B]

Health Secretary Joseph Kevin P. Villagomez has formed the Department of Public Health Bioterrorism Task Force following the anthrax scare that gripped Saipan last week. The task force, chaired by the health secretary, is composed of representatives from the different divisions of the Department that include the Commonwealth Health Center administrator, the director of medical affairs, an epidemiologist, environmental health specialists, pharmacists, emergency room staff and three certified hazardous material personnel.

The Attorney General’s Office has filed a court motion, seeking to exclude two pieces of testimonial evidence in the forthcoming murder trial of Tinian resident Juanito M. Alcantara. The government through Chief Prosecutor Kevin A. Lynch moved to suppress testimonies relating to a hammer that was allegedly found inside the victim’s bedroom. Moreover, the prosecution also asked the court to discount the victim’s parents’ theory about the case.

Babauta, NMI govt sued
[/B] The Civil Service Commission filed a lawsuit yesterday against Gov. Juan N. Babauta and the Commonwealth government, in an attempt to prevent the termination of several civil service employees who have been converted to exempted position. The commission, which is seeking to strip the Governor of control over the Office of Personnel Management, asserted that some statutory provisions giving Babauta powers over personnel matters, as well as an executive order creating excepted service positions, are unconstitutional; thus, they should have no force and effect. The commission also assailed the Governor’s legal authority to appoint its executive director.

China Southern Air brought in close to 10,000 tourists to the Northern Marianas since the air carrier began direct charter flight to the Commonwealth in April 2002. The tourists-who arrived through the bi-weekly flights of the air carrier to Saipan-boosted the recovery efforts of the CNMI tourism industry, Tinian Dynasty Hotel Manager Tom Liu said.

‘Reevaluate CK as Saipan capital'[/B]

House members agreed yesterday that it’s time to rethink Chalan Kanoa as Saipan’s capital amid the area’s state of disrepair, which reportedly does nothing to leave a nice, lasting impression on visitors. The lower house adopted House Resolution 13-180, urging the administration to form a task force that would reevaluate CK as the island’s capital.