FLASHBACK April 23, 1999-2002

Teno fires Atalig[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has fired Coastal Resources Management Office Administrator Felipe Q. Atalig, who has been accused of sexual harassment, in yet another move to send a strong message to government officials that he will not tolerate such misconduct in public office. Atalig is the first senior official in the Commonwealth to be dismissed under Tenorio’s two-year administration. The dismissal of Atalig, who has been under administrative suspension since last month after allegations of sexual harassment was brought against him by his staff, came amid renewed efforts of Tenorio’s administration to keep government workplace safe from such behavior.

There are no sweatshops on Saipan, according to OSHA officials and administrators. Region IV OSHA administrators offered to SGMA Executive Director Richard A. Pierce, this assessment at a closing conference for United International Corporation, and after concluding a large portion of the first baseline study of the CNMI Garment industry since 1996. In meetings with OSHA Region IV Regional Administrator Frank Strasheim on March 16, and in a meeting with OSHA’s Connie Hunt on April 13, Pierce met to discuss OSHA’s full team of inspectors’ activity in preparing the baseline study, and to continue efforts to build occupational safety and compliance through the joint cooperative effort between the groups. Strasheim reported that OSHA was conducting the first comprehensive industry study in Saipan since 1996.

NMHC’s loan program benefits 126 families[/B]

The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation over the weekend announced that it is persistently providing assistance to the public with respect to mortgage servicing. Under the NMHC-MPLT Loan Program, NMHC was able to accommodate a total of 126 recipients with a total aggregate amount of $8,581,59.20, according to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. The additional amount infused into the economy came in time with the setup of loans being purchased by the Bank of Hawaii and Bank Pacific. NMHC recently received a portion of the remaining funds ($2,233,000.00) from the original amount of $10 million. Other loans like the “Direct Loan Program” also made a large impact.

Governor Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday expressed optimism the Senate and the House of Representatives will reach a compromise agreement that will put to rest controversies surrounding the three-year stay limit law. Tenorio said legislators should recognize the local economy’s heavy dependence on nonresident workers, pointing out that an exodus will only aggravate economic conditions in the CNMI. However, the governor also mentioned the need to start preparing local workforce for private sector jobs since the Northern Marianas cannot forever rely on foreign manpower.

CPA courting Philippine Airlines back[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will formalize negotiations with Philippine Airlines executives next month, in line with plans to reinstate nonstop Manila-Saipan flights previously provided by the carrier. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday disclosed that he is scheduled to meet with PAL officials next month to thresh out concerns raised during a discussion between the CNMI and the Philippine delegations two months back. Salas pointed out that the meeting also seeks to concretize earlier plans by the Philippine flag carrier to reinstate the Manila-Saipan flights.

Preparations for the first-ever Consuls General Summit Conference, which will be held on Saipan in May, kicked off yesterday with a free-wheeling discussion between the Babauta administration and the consuls general of Japan, the Philippines and Palau on issues ranging from delayed Authorization To Board documents to enhanced tourism promotion efforts. Gov. Juan N. Babauta said he would soon be naming members to a committee that would work with the consuls general in threshing out the logistics of the summit, which would be attended by diplomats from, among others, the Philippines, Japan, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Australia and South Korea.