Flashback – July 15, 1999-2003

[B][U]July 15, 1999[/U][/B] [B]CPA to decide on Northwest’s plea for incentives[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is set to decide today on the request of Northwest Airlines for a seven-month extension of its incentive program, according to CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas. Salas explained the board and management will analyze its effect on the financial situation of the ports authority, particularly its impact on the capability of the Airport Division to repay its $20 million debt. “If we grant Northwest’s request, we should also provide the same extension to the other airlines to be fair to all the airlines,” said Salas.

[B]CNMI seeks $200K partial payment for hosting illegals[/B]

The Northern Marianas is ready to bill the federal government about $200,000 as its initial request for payment on the costs of hosting more than 500 illegal Chinese immigrants on Tinian. But the island government has estimated a total of $599,000 in expenditures which it incurred during the two-month operations assisting U.S. authorities, according to Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen. The Department of Finance has compiled all the records and documents from all government agencies involved in the operations, but it is currently trying to finalize these papers before the Commonwealth asks for reimbursement from Washington.

[B][U]July 15, 2002[/U][/B] [B]CDA explores crop insurance services[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority is developing plans to establish a crop insurance policy on the islands, as part of efforts to revitalize the CNMI’s agriculture sector. CDA Board Chair Juan S. Tenorio said a crop insurance policy would help bring confidence among local farmers, thereby, enticing them to invest more in the farming industry. Tenorio said the development authority has been consistently exploring ways to help revitalize the Commonwealth’s agriculture sector by helping local farmers recoup their investments or by giving them the guarantee that they will not go bankrupt in cases of natural disasters.

[B]Mechanics for Compact Impact funds eyed[/B]

The Office of the Insular Affairs, together with other concerned agencies of the U.S. government, are now working on a mechanism to provide Compact Impact funds for the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii on a more stable and permanent basis. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen disclosed this Thursday, adding that such a mechanism would be coextensive with the right to migrate of people from the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. “This time around, we’re intending to address Compact Impact issues together with the Compact itself. So, we’re working on creating a mechanism to provide for a stable source of Compact Impact funding to the territories and state that have been affected by the migration of people from Micronesia or other parts of Micronesia,” said Cohen.

[B][U]July 15, 2003[/U][/B] [B]CPA: Where are our needed lands?[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority reiterated its call to the central government to help it obtain the additional lands needed for the much-delayed container yard expansion project that is anticipated to turn the Saipan Seaport into Micronesia’s transshipment hub. The container yard expansion project has been in the back burner for more than five years since the CPA floated the idea of making the Saipan Seaport a major hub for containers from Asia, the U.S. mainland, and other Pacific island nations. CPA executive director Carlos H. Salas lamented the slow process of acquiring the needed public lands despite efforts of the ports authority and the Legislature.

[B]Lawsuit alleges ‘salt water’ vendetta[/B]

If businessman Choi Byoong Soob and Soi In Corp.-a firm that operates poker establishments and sells poker machines-win the lawsuit they have filed at the Superior Court, they may receive an amount much greater than the typical jackpot prize. Choi and his company are asking the court to award them some $3 million for damages caused them by another company that wrecked their machines. Choi and his company, represented by lawyers Rexford C. Kosack and Glenn A. Jewell, sued Li Ya Import & Export Corp., Leng Bai and John Gerald Castro Pangelinan. Bai is the son of Li Ya owner Li Hua Bai, while Pangelinan is an employee of Li Ya. Li Ya owns the Tony’s Poker in As Lito.