FLASHBACK March 13, 2000-2002

Young backs fight vs federal takeover[/B]

The Commonwealth’s fight against federal takeover drew fresh support from Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) who has renewed calls against several legislative proposals that would strip the CNMI control over immigration and minimum wage. Mr. Young, chair of the powerful House Resources Committee, has told colleagues in Congress to weigh an independent study by the U.S. General Accounting Office which detailed the potential economic disaster that may be caused by changes in the ability of the CNMI to tap foreign labor. “Several legislative proposals exist that would do just that, and I am opposed to them,” said the congressman in a speech before the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

Economic downturn in Asia and restrictive local investment policy requiring investors to put up a $100,000 security deposit continue to chase foreign businessmen away from the Northern Marianas. Only 10 new foreign investments have been given the foreign investment certificates and visas to do business on Saipan since February 1997, according to the Economic Development Division of the commerce department. The new foreign investments pumped in some $1.75 million in fresh capital to the CNMI economy, and an additional $1 million from the required $100,000 cash security deposit per foreign investor.

Disaster emergency on Rota [/B]

Rota will be placed under local disaster emergency after the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation went on with its scheduled power disconnection of government offices yesterday due to unsettled bills. Citing imminent threat to public health, safety and welfare, Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona urged CUC officials to restore the electricity supply of local government agencies essential to community services. Mr. Manglona also called on Administration officials, legislators and the CUC to sit down and thresh out the problem, particularly funding sources to settle utility debts incurred for Cycle four and five.

The Department of Finance and the Commonwealth Utilities Commission yesterday hammered out a deal guaranteeing the continued supply of electricity to government offices on Saipan. However, the agreement proved too late for government offices in Rota and Tinian as the utility company made true its threat to cut electric service to public establishments in the two municipalities. According to Finance Secretary Lucy Nielsen, the government will pay the CUC a minimum flat-rate of $800,000 a month for the continued consumption of electricity by Commonwealth offices. “CUC wants a commitment from the government to be able to pay at least $800,000 a month. They want a commitment from us and we will be able to do that,” Ms. Lucy Nielsen indicated.

Customs collection slides to $3.9M[/B]

In a manner that has become depressingly predictable of late, the Customs collection last month fell by 4.15 percent, from $4.14 million in January to $3.97 million in February. Based on figures provided by the CNMI Division of Customs, the biggest drop in revenue was in airport collections, which fell by a whopping 51 percent, from $234,500 in January to just $114,490 in February. Customs Director Jose Mafnas said this is probably reflective of the drop in visitor arrivals to the Commonwealth and could bounce back once the tourism industry revives. He added, though, that the drop could also be attributed to the fact that February this year had only 28 days, which means short of three days when compared to months that have 31 days.

More than a hundred aliens trooped to the American Memorial Park early last night amid occasional rain to listen to asylum opportunities from human-rights lawyer Bruce Lee Jorgensen-a meeting that was attended by personalities that included local and federal government officials. Among those who attended the meeting were Office of Insular Affairs representative Jeff Schorr, Assistant Attorney General Andrew Clayton and former Senate legal counsel Steve Woodruff. Unlike Sunday’s gathering, there was no scramble for asylum application forms among the aliens, who were mostly Chinese and Bangladeshi, and many of them were seen by the Saipan Tribune carrying their respective copies. “We distributed 500 [forms] tonight.