FLASHBACK – October 15, 2011

$310K set aside for Saipan projects[/B]

Some $310,000 in poker fee funds were appropriated last week for several projects on Saipan, a big bite of which goes to the Mayor’s Office and for road improvement projects in Precinct III. House Local Bill 12-42, which is authored by Rep. Jesus T. Attao, now heads to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for his signature, after the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation unanimously passed the measure during Thursday’s session. Under the local bill, the sum of $310,000 that was collected from taxes on poker machines (Public Law 11-2) were distributed among various projects in Saipan. Of the amount, $100,000 will go to Mayor Jose C. Sablan for the purchase of parts, fuel, radios and for the repairs and maintenance of heavy equipment.

Department of Public Health-proposed regulations submitted to the Commonwealth Register for comment, in part, aims to prohibit the practice of home burials due to health reasons. The DPH reported last week a rise in the number of home burial requests, placing the blame on the lack of burial plots at existing Saipan cemeteries. Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez underscored the need for concerned agencies to get together to address the cemetery space crisis, warning that the continued practice of home burials could lead to serious health consequences that could affect the community.

MPLA seeks out $40M for land compensation claims[/B]

The Marianas Public Lands Authority has began working on finding the needed $40 million to settle land claims of various individuals against the CNMI. Right now, the MPLA is reviewing all pending land claims. “We’re reviewing all those different files. We’ve done some progress. We have drafted the rules and regulations,” MPLA Deputy Commissioner Henry Hofschneider said. But Hofschneider said the MPLA needs to work double time, especially when the Commonwealth Development Authority has gone ahead with identifying potential sources of the money. Under Public Law 13-17, the MPLA has to coordinate with the CDA in finding the $40 million fund.

Rep. William S. Torres has penned legislation calling for the creation of the Commonwealth’s own system of trademark registration, as a device to protect exclusive makers or sellers from infringement. House Bill 13-189 or the proposal to establish the Commonwealth Trademark Registration Office also sets out to better inform consumers of the products and services available in the market. According to Torres, the CNMI currently has no means of registering a trademark, which is important in identifying and distinguishing the unique goods and/or services of a person from those used or sold by others.

NMI gets $1.25M grant for family service centers[/B]

The U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities has awarded the Commonwealth $1.25 million for the next five years in support of establishing family service centers within the NMI. According to Developmental Disabilities Council executive director Thomas J. Camacho, the Commonwealth will be getting funds under the Family Support 360 Implementation grant beginning Fiscal Year 2005 up to FY 2009, with $250,000 to be awarded each year. Camacho said he learned of the approval while attending the recent National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities membership meeting and conference in Lexington, Kentucky. He said that because the Commonwealth was awarded $100,000 through the Family Support grant in 2003, it was eligible to compete with 31 other states for the newly acquired grant.

Former congressman Stanley Torres filed three motions in court yesterday asking for the removal of “highly prejudicial, inflammatory language” in the prosecution’s information, correction of messed up case numbering, as well issuance of clear and precise description of charges. Lawyers Robert T. Torres and Perry Inos filed a motion to strike surplusage, referring to a preamble contained in the prosecution’s original information and amended information. “This preamble is surplusage and serves no purpose, in addition to being inflammatory, irrelevant, and conclusory,” said the motion.