FLASHBACK – June 24, 2011

Was WASC trip really necessary?[/B]

Three ranking officials of the Northern Marianas College recently flew to California for training in accreditation standards and Rep. Stanley Torres wants to know if the trip was really necessary. In a letter to officials of the Western Association for Schools and Colleges, Torres stressed that he is ready to support the NMC and its WASC accreditation but he needs to be convinced that the trip was of utmost necessity for him to throw his support behind the college. The letter was addressed to WASC Senior Division executive director Dr. Ralph Wolff and Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges executive director Dr. Barbara Beno.

Plans are now underway to extend cable television services to areas on Rota that are currently not being serviced by KMCV. In line with this, the Rota Legislative Delegation is now trying to find the needed $58,000 for the completion of the project. Delegation chair Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, together with other members of the Rota delegation, met with KMCV general manager Steve Coleman and representatives of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Thursday last week to map out the details of the proposed project. “We are trying to extend cable services to Sinapalu II and III and the KMCV general manager, Steve Coleman, told us that the actual amount needed to extend this service is about $58,000 and he’s asking the delegation if we can identify funding for this,” said Atalig.

CPA reviewing Taga Air’s charter service proposal[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is currently reviewing a proposal submitted by newly commissioned Taga Air, a recently incorporated aircraft firm that would provide air transport services between Saipan and Tinian. Taga Air Charter Service Inc. president Raja Segaran said the company is proposing to run a demand air taxi operation in the Commonwealth, beginning with service between Tinian and Saipan, using a Piper PA 32-300 aircraft. Segaran said all documents, including a Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 application, have already been submitted to the Honolulu Flight Standard Office. The FAA Part 135 certification usually takes 60 days, he said.

To this day, Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero wonders why Senate President Paul A. Manglona pushed to recall the MRC-government settlement measure without even consulting him, being the chairman of the Senate Resources, Economic Development and Programs. It was his committee that conducted the public hearing on the settlement measure, called House Bill 13-267. Guerrero is also curious to know why the bill was not promptly addressed after it was recalled, as required under Senate rules. “I am going to request for a reason why, as chairman, I was not consulted about the decision to recall,” he said yesterday.

BOE unaware of Lab School talks[/B]

Board of Education chair Roman Benavente said the board is unaware of any talks regarding the proposed transfer of College Lab School to the Public School System. “I would want to be briefed on this issue. This has not been raised to the board,” said Benavente, adding that he would ask Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos about it. Acting Northern Marianas College president Antonio V. Deleon Guerrero earlier said that NMC and PSS are in “exploratory discussions” regarding the possible transfer of the Lab School to PSS. He said that initial talks indicated Tanapag as possible venue for the Lab School. “That’s the suggestion of PSS because Tanapag has available rooms and it has less students compared to other schools,” Guerrero had said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a grant application that would assist garment factories on Saipan manage their wastes properly. EPA Pacific Islands Office manager John McCarroll announced the approval of the grant application for the “Green Garments” project, a partnership between the Division of Environmental Quality and the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, during the 23rd Pacific Islands Environment Conference at the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach. SGMA executive director Richard Pierce expressed the association’s gratitude to the EPA, although no grant amount was disclosed yet.