Flashback May 15, 2000-2002

No abortion at CHC[/B]

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez has said that no abortion will be performed at the Commonwealth Health Center unless the CNMI court says otherwise. Despite a legal opinion that says that any woman may obtain an abortion in the Northern Marianas, Villagomez maintained that the lone hospital on the island will strictly adhere to a provision of the Commonwealth Constitution that prohibits such practice. “We will continue to aggressively address this issue based on the CNMI Constitution—that no abortion will be carried out here,” he said.
[B] Cholera warning raised in FSM[/B]

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez has advised travelers going to Federated States of Micronesia, especially Pohnpei, to take the necessary precautionary measures with the outbreak of cholera in the neighboring island. Mr. Villagomez urged travelers coming from Pohnpei and other FSM jurisdictions who are experiencing symptoms such as profuse watery diarrhea or leg cramps for the last five days to immediately visit the Commonwealth Health Center for medical attention The cholera outbreak was reported by the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association to which Mr. Villagomez is currently president.

Businessmen want minimum wage raised to $4.50 an hour[/B]

Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Anthony Pellegrino yesterday raised the possibility of scrapping the nonresident workers’ fringe benefit and replacing it with a higher minimum wage of at least $4.50 per hour. In an interview yesterday, the chamber president urged the government to explore the possibility of raising the minimum wage, while eliminating other benefits like free housing, meals and plane fare extended to guest workers. Pellegrino believes such a formula would level the playing field between resident and nonresident workers, and in a way stimulate the entry of more locals into the Commonwealth’s labor force.
[B] Over 1,000 qualified voters remain unregistered[/B]

The Board of Election yesterday complained of difficulties in reaching more than 1,000 unregistered voters in the Northern Marianas, as the November general elections draws near. Executive director Greg Sablan disclosed that despite appeals made by the election board urging unregistered voters to go out and be listed for the upcoming polls, only a handful had so far surfaced to register. Mr. Sablan said extensive education programs have been underway to inform the public of the ongoing registration. However, school visitation yielded only a handful of registrants. The election official said some students came prepared to register but a big number reportedly stayed away from deputized election officers despite earlier notification of the scheduled registration activities.

Moves to unseat Manglona loom[/B]

In what could prove precarious to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, moves are afoot right now at the upper chamber to unseat him, with Saipan and Tinian senators teaming up to form a new leadership bloc in the Senate. In a coup that has the 13th Legislature in an uproar, disaffected senators from both the Tinian and Saipan delegations–with the exception of Senate Floor Leader Joaquin G. Adriano–have agreed to team up to form the Senate’s new leadership, with Tinian senator Jose Dela Cruz being groomed as the new Senate President. According to Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, the proposed Senate leadership would be composed of Dela Cruz, David M. Cing, Pete P. Reyes, Thomas P. Villagomez and himself. The Senate, a nine-member body, only needs five senators to comprise the majority.

One vote was all it took for Senate President Paul A. Manglona to put himself in a position that could lose him the Senate presidency. In particular, Manglona’s decision to change his vote from supporting to rejecting the nomination of former senator Edward U. Maratita to the Commonwealth Development Authority’s board of directors was viewed by some senators as a betrayal of the Rota delegation and a sign of weakness. “The commotion on Monday was a classic example and it was more than enough to justify [my sentiments] that I cannot go on being part of this leadership when I know that our President is not only a traitor but he’s [also] a weak President,” said Sen. David M. Cing.