FLASHBACK – October 4, 2011

Northwest’s B747 flies to Saipan[/B]

Tourism officials expressed hope over the weekend that the arrival of Northwest Airlines’ B747 would signal the improvement of the CNMI’s market share in Japan. “It may take a while to replace the seats left by Continental but we’re at least moving, ” said Marianas Visitors Authority board chair Dave M. Sablan. Claiming low traffic, Continental Micronesia has removed all its direct flights from various cities in Japan to Saipan which Japanese tour operators said would severely hinder efforts to bring in visitors to the island. Northwest decided to upgrade its aircraft from DC 10 to B747 as a result of the 50 percent reduction in departure and arrival fees under the Airlines Incentive Program of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

A resolution is expected to be adopted by the Senate urging the Board of Elections to hold special polls on Tinian after former Sen. Herman M. Manglona resigned in the wake of his conviction on bribery charges in federal court. Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez said he will file the resolution during a session to be held likely this week to resolve immediately the fate of the seat left vacant with Manglona’s departure. But he explained the resolution will not mention the circumstances prior to his resignation, noting the Senate has to declare only that the seat is vacant. The embattled former senator resigned from the Legislature last month after pleading guilty to the charges filed against him in connection with federal projects he administered while he was mayor of Tinian.

DD Council to purchase $50K state-of-the art van[/B]

The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council has recently been granted authority to procure a $50,000 state-of-the art accessible vehicle envisioned to alleviate barriers that hamper the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in regular community events. DDC Executive Director Tom Camacho said once the van is purchased, the council will turnover its operation to another company or organization. Funds for the major purchase was received by the council from the community block grant approved by Commonwealth Development Authority and the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation. “We will be turning the key over to a bus operator to provide the services which they will handle on an on call basis. This would support individuals with disabilities who do not have access to transportation,” said Mr. Camacho.

The U.S. interior department’s Office of Insular Affairs has pledged to continue assisting the Commonwealth government find solution to its air transportation concerns, in fresh efforts to revive the islands’ tourism industry. Ports Authority Board Chair Roman S. Palacios disclosed Insular Affairs Director Ferdinand Aranza has recently reiterated OIA’s commitment to help beef up the CNMI’s efforts to improve air transport services to and from the Northern Marianas. In an interview, Mr. Palacios said the OIA chief assured CPA that the issue of improved air access to the Northern Marianas will be consistently monitored through the Inter Agency Group on Insular Affairs. He said Mr. Aranza’s statement came in the wake of CPA’s concerns on the exclusion of Saipan in the list of destinations for the second, short runway at the Narita Airport in Japan.

Lightning strikes twice for jet fuel tax bill[/B]

Remember House Bill 12-359 and what happened to it? The same curse that haunted the bill appears to be the same doom befalling House Bill 12-416. Both bills have similar goals-to realign 100 percent of the aviation fuel tax to the Marianas Visitors Authority as additional supplemental budget for promotions. In the earlier case of House Bill 12-359, the Senate had amended the bill, creating MVA deputy marketing directors for Tinian and Rota. The House of Representatives rejected the amendment and threw it back to the Senate, which then responded by reinserting the amendment. In exasperation, the House adopted the amendment and transmitted the bill to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, who vetoed the bill, saying that creating deputy marketing directors for Tinian and Rota would create duplication of functions. The Senate responded by overriding the veto, paving the way for its passage into law.