Flashback- April 14, 1999-2003

[B][U]April 14, 1999[/U][/B] [B]School money cut[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has moved closer to overhauling the government’s scholarship program after he signed a law imposing a cap on the financial aid that will be granted to on and off-island students for post secondary education. Under Public Law 11-77, which amends the scholarship act put in place in 1990, financial assistance to students enrolled in Northern Marianas College or in universities in the United States or its territories will be pegged at $15,000 annually per student. The amount will cover expenses for tuition, textbooks, board and lodging, transportation and other school fees for a period of up to five consecutive years.

[B]NMC board votes to restructure[/B]

The Northern Marianas College board approved yesterday a restructring plan for a leaner top-level management team. The approval clears the way for issuing 90-day notices to vice presidents and other key positions. The restructured bureaucracy retains only one vice president, from three, and three deans. The downsizing was necessary to bring the college in line with budget limits in fiscal 2000. The three vice presidents will be issued notices while the board determines who gets to stay or leave. The policy also applies to the deans for Continuing Education, Professional Programs and the director for Information Technology Services.

[B][U]April 14, 2000[/U][/B] [B]Ex-DPW officials face legal action[/B]

The Office of the Public Auditor has recommended the filing of legal action against two former officials of the Department of Public Works for approving an allegedly anomalous land survey contract with a private company in 1997. Public Auditor Leo LaMotte also instructed theDepartment of Finance to initiate actions that would result in the recovery of $164,534 which were improperly made to Tinian Road Resurfacing Project contractor Castro & Associates. According to the OPA report released yesterday, the awarding of the land survey contract to C&A should have not taken place since the road paving contractor—Hawaiian Rock Products Corporation—had already included in its proposal the needed survey work for only $8,339. C&A got the TRRP contract from the public works department for $229,438. OPA said the contract price was based on a grossly inflated fee proposal which contained excessive work hours and mobilization costs improperly charged to the government.

[B]Teno appoints Manglona to Supreme Court[/B]

After weeks of anticipation, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday finally announced the appointment of Associate Judge John A. Manglona to the Supreme Court, almost 16 months since the retirement of former Chief Justice Marty W.K. Taylor. At the same time, he named lawyer Eric S. Smith to the Superior Court to succeed the judge if he gets the advice and consent of the Senate as required under the Constitution. There was no immediate reaction from Judge Manglona on his nomination. His office said he was on the other telephone line when Tribune called him up to seek his comment. If confirmed, he will join Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan and Associate Justice Alexandro C. Castro to the three-seat judicial chamber. The two were appointed by Mr. Tenorio in July 1999, the same time he named Judge Manglona to the lower court.

[B][U]April 14, 2003[/U][/B] [B]NMC to restrict nursing program from foreign students[/B]

The Northern Marianas College remains committed to pursuing its Pacific Gateway project but it would limit its international enrolment to the English program. NMC president Kenneth E. Wright said the college would concentrate primarily on teaching English, indicating that not all NMC programs-particularly the expensive ones like Nursing-would be opened to foreign students. Wright maintained in a recent interview that teaching English would be a very lucrative business for the NMC. He said the NMC just needs to dig up the “gold mine” and profit from it.

[B]DOF stops Marianas Lottery raffle promo[/B]

Due to some legal concerns raised by the Attorney General’s Office, the Marianas Lottery was prevented from going ahead with its planned raffle draw for the brand new 2003 Ford Ranger pick up truck. Marianas Lottery GM Marie Coleman sought to assure its customers, though, that the raffle draw may still push through as local lottery officials are set to meet this week with Department of Finance to iron out any glitches in the raffle promotion. “So please hold on to your tickets purchased from March 29, 2003 to April 11, 2003 since we were informed they [Department of Finance] would try to meet with us this week,” said Coleman in a statement.