FLASHBACK March 9, 1999-2001

PR in financial limbo[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday hinted he may have to implement a new round of tax increase should the Saipan Chamber of Commerce insist the government hires a public relations firm that will defend CNMI against relentless media attacks. Worried that the negative publicities would harm efforts to attract investments into the Northern Marianas, businessmen are pushing the administration to tap a PR agent to help refurbish the commonwealth’s tarnished image in the international community. The private sector has offered to pitch in money for the campaign in order to reduce the funds the cash-strapped government would have to contribute for retaining a lobbyist.

A multi-agency working group whose task is to account for every dollar spent for hosting Micronesians was created by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in fresh attempt to recover millions of dollars in unpaid Compact Impact cost from the federal government. The working group was put in place in an apparent response to plans of the White House to chop off 51 percent to $5.6 million the FY 2000 appropriation for CNMI’s Capital Improvement Projects in favor of Guam. The commonwealth stands to lose over $16 million in the next three years under the Washington’s spending plan despite a seven-year financial assistance agreement ratified in 1996 that guarantees annual budget of $11 million for CIP projects. Local officials say they are anticipating the multiplier economic impact of the CIP funds to reach $300 million.

CUC wavers over 80-MW power plan[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation appears to have backed down to pressure as officials yesterday said they will support a pending measure reinstating the mothballed 80-megawatt power plant on Saipan if there is an assurance that such a project will not increase electricity rates on the island. CUC Board Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto said they are not pushing for a veto of Senate Bill 12-19, but that they want clarification on its intent before the governor signs it into law. “No, we didn’t ask for a veto. We want clarification of the bill. If the intent of the bill is good, then we want the governor to sign it. We want the contract in a way that we don’t need to increase the rates,” she told reporters in an interview.

When Antonio Arriola, 59, his wife Mary, 47, and three children were brought to the Superior Court to face charges of conspiracy for obstruction of justice on March 7, 2000, it was probably the longest moment in their lives. On that day, around 2:30 p.m., some 10 police and detectives on board five patrol cars surrounded the Arriola apartment in Garapan. Immediately, the police handcuffed Joey, his sisters Antoinette and Darcy and brought them to the Department of Public Safety. But Mr. and Mrs. Arriola, who were included in the arrest warrant, were not home that day, but they rushed to DPS to surrender themselves. “We are not criminals, but we were treated like ones,” said Mrs. Arriola.

Deport sex workers, pimps
[/B] As if the three-year limit stay is not yet enough, the CNMI government apparently found another good reason to send nonresidents back home: Deportation of sex workers. However, lawmakers were quick to point out that including deportation in the list of possible penalties that may be meted out against sex workers would block increase of prostitution cases in the CNMI. The Department of Public Safety made the recommendation to the CNMI Legislature as it called for an immediate review of the existing law against prostitution. Police wants the law to have more teeth in terms of prosecution.

Who would have thought that a well-orchestrated criminal operation involving one of the Commonwealth’s key government agencies could be masterminded by teenagers under 15 years old? Police yesterday apprehended two main suspects to the burglary of the Department of Labor and Immigration in San Antonio Tuesday, who happen to be a pair of 13- and 14-year-olds. The Department of Public Safety reported the attempt to rob the agency apparently began as early as Monday but suspects only succeeded in gaining entry into the second floor office Tuesday night.