FLASHBACK – July 28, 2011

DOLI bars entry of PROC nationals[/B]

Labor and Immigration Sec. Mark Zachares yesterday issued fresh instructions to halt the issuance of new entry permits to all nationals from mainland China, following refusal and delay by Beijing to accept returning workers from the Northern Marianas. In a memorandum addressed to all airlines, labor and immigration offices and ports of entry, the DOLI chief also canceled Authorizations to Board or ATBs to PROC nationals, which means that airlines are prohibited from admitting passengers from China to bring onto the island. The order applies to all new entry permits, including new workers, replacement workers, tourists and short-term business, 90-day business, long-term business, special industry, students and immediate relatives.

Due to its limited manpower, the Port of Saipan may have to acquire an automated machine to assist this division of the Commonwealth Ports Authority in collecting parking fees beginning October 1, 1999. Port of Saipan General Manager Antonio B. Cabrera said he is looking at the cost effectiveness of implementing the collection of parking fee at the port. The Seaport Division may also have to take care of the passenger fee collection for those who will take the Tinian ferry. However, Cabrera said there is no definite date yet on when the passenger fee will be collected.

Outer Cove operator may go bankrupt[/B]

The Outer Cove Marina may eventually go bankrupt because of the failure of the CNMI government to comply with the agreement to ensure that commercial boat operators are paying their fees. Every month, the Marine Revitalization Corp. is losing $24,000, which covers interest payment alone for its huge loans from the bank and various companies. Total investment of MRC in the marina is $4.1 million. MRC, a non-profit corporation, entered into an agreement with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, and the U.S. National Parks Service to build and operate the marina where it was granted a 15-year lease on some 16,394 square meters of submerged land.

The Department of Public Safety has asked the House Ways and Means Committee for a $3.6 million increase in funding for fiscal year 2001 to cope with the expected increase in police and fire personnel as well as replace obsolete equipment. This brings to $17.6 million the budget needed by the department to run efficiently, according to DPS Commissioner Charles W. Ingram. So far, the Office of Management and Budget has only given DPS $14 million for FY 2001. In a letter to Rep. Antonio Camacho, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Ingram said the Commissioner’s Office is seeking $50,000 funding which will be used specifically for the Criminal Intelligence Section.

Anti-counterfeiting bill is now a law[/B]

Law enforcers now have a stronger arm to run after businesses and persons engaged in counterfeiting and selling fake goods, with Gov. Juan N. Babauta signing into law yesterday a legislative bill that criminalizes such activities. Babauta said the law would help curb the proliferation of forgery and counterfeiting activities, which have created a negative impact on trade and commerce in the CNMI. The law also punishes those who knowingly transport counterfeit goods into, out of, or within the CNMI. Offered by Sen. Paterno S. Hocog, Senate Bill 14-32 is now Public Law 14-22, or the Private Labels Protection Act, which provides penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment for violators.

Senate President Joaquin Adriano on Monday expressed the leadership’s support for an early warning system amid the existing threat of volcanoes in the CNMI, saying it would look into possibly tapping available funds to implement the plan. Adriano said the Senate would meet with the House of Representatives to pool efforts in finding ways to help fund the plan. Before the session begins today, Adriano said U.S. Geological Survey’s James E. Quick would present to the senators the findings of a recent study on the CNMI’s volcanoes. “We should support the administration in that early warning system plan,” Adriano said.