FLASHBACK – July 12, 2011

Proposal to tap immigration expert axed[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday thumbed down suggestion from legislators to hire an outside immigration law expert who will assist the Commonwealth in proposing reform measures in the U.S. Congress in lieu of federal takeover legislation. “I’d rather see that legislation be introduced here in the CNMI,” he told reporters after meeting with members of the House Federal and Foreign Relations Committee where the proposal was broached. “I don’t think the committee will do that—they are proposing to draft legislation for the federal government. I will not make recommendation or suggestion [on that proposal],” added Tenorio.

The House Ways and Means began on Friday its deliberation of the proposed FY 2000 budget, pledging to increase funds set aside by the Tenorio administration to a cash-strapped independent program once the government’s financial resources improve. Representatives of the charity group Karidat asked the committee for additional funding for the next fiscal year, citing potential huge shortfall in its budget that may hamper the delivery of services to the community. Karidat has been providing assistance to the community, like meals and other basic necessities for alien workers who have been abandoned by their employers, as well as counseling and other needs for troubled youth and victims of domestic violence.

Fund adds $3.5M to its Asian investment[/B]

The NMI Retirement Fund board has approved the infusion of an additional $3.5 million to its investment in Asia as the region has shown signs of economic recovery. This brings to $18.5 million the total money now handled by its money manager Invesco Asia Ltd. in the region. In January 1996, the Fund invested $15 million in Asia but the financial crisis in the region brought down the value of its investment to $6 million in June 1998. As of May 31, 2000, the Fund’s $15 million investment is valued at $9.8 million. According to Vicente Camacho, NMIRF Board chair, the decision was made by the board directors after meeting with their regional economists and money managers in Hong Kong in October 1999.

The Division of Quarantine has stumbled into a 20-foot cargo containing potentially hazardous merchandise shipped from Indonesia that are feared to affect the island’s ecological balance. Quarantine officials held the entry of several stone statues, bamboo ornaments, wooden furniture, metals, and handicrafts aboard a large container after discovering the commodities were contaminated with dirt, bugs, and different types of insects. Acting Department of Agriculture director Stan Villagomez yesterday laid the blame on inadequate quarantine procedures performed by the country of origin as it apparently failed to thoroughly check if the contents of the container were free from undesirable elements.

Special program for NMI’s diabetics pressed[/B]

Over 30 diabetes patients and relatives of persons afflicted with the disease trooped to the “Pacific Diabetes Today” workshop yesterday, where they shared accounts of their encounter with the disease. During yesterday’s forum, most of the participants admitted to spending some time in denial that they, of all people, could be afflicted with diabetes. Some blamed genetics. Others professed they were just probably too lax with their eating and exercise habits. But in general, participants agreed they all wanted to seek an end to the ordeal before its complications lead to fatality.

Steps to create a Department of Corrections that is separate from the Department of Public Safety gained ground yesterday after the House of Representatives passed on first reading a bill providing for such a distinction. The House Committee on Judicial and Government Operations, to which House Bill 12-375 was referred, said that it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth for criminal offenders to be rehabilitated and reeducated to prevent recidivism. “With such a broad mandate, the committee finds that it is necessary to create a Department of Corrections that is provided with administration and appropriation separate from that of the Department of Public Safety,” said Rep. Dino Jones, committee chairman.