Flashback-April 17, 2000-2002

[B][U]April 17, 2000[/U][/B] [B]CNMI files protest against Continental[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority on Friday wrote the U.S. Department of Transportation decrying Continental Micronesia’s treatment of Saipan and Guam as co-terminals which CNMI officials claimed has adversely impacted CNMI’s tourism industry. This is the first formal protest lodged by the CNMI government against the decision of the Continental Micronesia to drop direct international flights to and from the Northern Marianas. In a letter addressed to the federal transportation department, Ports Authority Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said CPA could not rally behind Continental’s application to renew its regular flights to Sapporo and Sendai in Japan.

[B]Young lauds labor and business reforms[/B]

Two crucial legislation on labor and business reforms passed recently by the House of Representatives have drawn support by some members of the U.S. Congress, boding well for the efforts to spur the local economy, according to Speaker Benigno R. Fitial. He said U.S. House Resources Committee Chair Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is “very pleased” with the passage of the twin measures “because he believes that we are doing the right thing.” House Bill 12-39 or the Omnibus Labor and Business Reform Act sponsored by Mr. Fitial was presented by the House delegation visiting Washington D.C. last week, along with the other measure also offered by the speaker, the CNMI Fair Labor Standards Act.

[B][U]April 17, 2001[/U][/B] [B]CUC bares fiscal conditions[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation yesterday submitted the comprehensive financial report ordered by the Legislature in light of the ongoing joint inquiry on its $150 million outstanding loan to the Commonwealth Development Authority. House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication Chair Rosiky Camacho disclosed CUC met the deadline set by the Legislature and filed the report late yesterday afternoon. Mr. Camacho said the utility corporation submitted loads of documents, discussing CUC’s financial status, revenues, losses and other loan agreements it has signed with other financing institutions.

[B]Kagman needs new textbooks[/B]

The Public School System recently approved the release of about $60,000 in total funds for the procurement of more than 600 textbooks needed by students of the newly-opened Kagman Elementary School. School principal Ignacia Demapan disclosed in an interview yesterday that procurement of more than 600 language and arts textbooks are now underway. Only recently, PSS also approved the procurement of new textbooks on Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies, Ms. Demapan added. However, the school administration needs to stretch its budget to afford procurement of at least 25 Science safety kits. She said orders were earlier placed but were called off due to a budget shortfall.

[B][U]April 17, 2002[/U][/B] [B]NMI popular as wedding destination [/B]

The September 11 terror attacks in the United States recoiled positively to the Northern Marianas, which, along with Guam, has been cited by travelers from Japan as one of the preferred wedding destinations around the world. This, even as the Japan Travel Bureau disclosed that reservations for honeymoon trips to the islands dropped by 4.6 percent from 95.8 in the 2001 Spring Honeymoon Season to this year’s 93.4 percent. This may be attributed to the decline in overseas wedding ceremonies during the same season, which dropped from 560 last year to 472 this year.

[B]Once more with feelings: Diversify[/B]

As tourism remains to be the CNMI economy’s bread and butter together with the apparel sector, the Pacific Asia Travel Association said the Commonwealth needs to tap other tourist markets, particularly Europe, just as another Pacific country—Palau—has penetrated the region. “Palau has an agent and a tourism office in Germany. They’re really attracting a lot of tourists from Europe, from Germany, specifically to Palau for diving,” said Carmen C. Gaskins, special project committee chair of PATA’s Micronesia Chapter. “We can coordinate and cooperate with that, and have a share market.” Gaskins made the statement in an interview yesterday, after her speaking engagement at the Environmental Symposium held at the Saipan Diamond Hotel Although she recognized that the bulk of tourist visitors on Saipan are Japanese, she said the CNMI should expand its market not only to the nearby regional vicinities.