FLASHBACK – October 17, 2011

CNMI gets new housing aid from HUD[/B]

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has recently awarded the CNMI new slots under a federally-funded housing program which is expected to benefit 26 more low-income Northern Marianas families. Northern Marianas Housing Corp. Manager Diana P. Crisostimo said the new award from HUD for the Section-8 Housing Assistance Program will enable the government-controlled corporation to accommodate 26 CNMI families who have applied for the federally-funded assistance. Ms. Crisostimo said only U.S. citizens are eligible to avail of the federal assistance under the program since the HUD has started phasing out citizens of the Freely Associated States from it.

The Public School System is set to implement this month the first phase of its three-fold E-rate installation plan to connect schools electronically across Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. PSS officials have tapped a Honolulu-based E-rate consultant to assist the school system run through its installation plans and initiate the “wiring” process at the soonest possible time. PSS which has recently been assured of some $400,000 to match its 76 percent E-rate discount, expects to get started with the project anytime soon, according PSS Technology Coordinator Mark Savares. The 76 percent E-rate discount will cover PSS’ telecommunication services to include long distance telephone services, paging services, cellular services, Internet access, and equipment.

Debate on lobbying heats up[/B]

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, an outspoken supporter of the extension of the Greenberg Traurig contract, has appealed to the CNMI media to report about the issue “as fairly as possible,” even as he batted once more for the retention of the lobby group. In an open letter, Fitial said the issue surrounding the proposed extension of the Greenberg Traurig contract has been clouded by election-year politics, “and unfortunately, our entire economy may suffer if we do the wrong thing.” The contract for the Washington D.C.-based lobby group ended on September 30. Under the leadership of Fitial, the House of Representatives had passed a resolution urging Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to extend the contract until December 31. Fitial is the gubernatorial candidate of the Covenant Party.

Results of a survey conducted among young voters reveal a snapshot of a generation that still places high premium on honesty and responsibility as traits that elected leaders must possess. Fifteen youth voters surveyed require their elected leaders to be determined, dedicated, intelligent, supportive of multi-culturalism, strong-willed, independent and open-minded to the youths’ concerns. “We need someone we can look up to, a person to be trusted and remembered for a job well done. Someone who makes promises and keeps them. A candidate that can promise a better future for the CNMI,” said a Marianas High School student.

DPS keeps sight on fresh funds[/B]

Public Safety Commissioner Edward Camacho said yesterday he would seek the Legislature’s assistance so that the money the U.S. Navy pays the Commonwealth government for docking its warships on CNMI waters would be earmarked for his department. Camacho said he would communicate with House Floor Leader Jesus Attao regarding this, saying that the money would help defray costs incurred by the department on personnel training and overtime pay. For fiscal year 2002, Camacho said the money generated from the Navy’s payments reached around $400,000. The police commissioner expressed optimism that the Legislature would heed to the request, considering that the police department provides Navy ships with force protection whenever they dock within CNMI jurisdiction.

Senate Vice President Jose M. Dela Cruz is looking to relieve non-Saipan consumers from what he termed as “double jeopardy” in the wharfage fee imposed by the Commonwealth Ports Authority on Rota and Tinian consumers. Dela Cruz yesterday complained that Tinian and Rota consumers have to shoulder wharfage costs of goods shipped to Saipan on top of the wharfage fee that the ports authority assesses on the shipment when it reaches Tinian or Rota. Senators are set to meet with CPA officials today to discuss the proposed break on wharfage fee, which Tinian and Rota ports officials themselves have suggested.