FLASHBACK – Mar. 17, 2012

House lauds Kagman High School student[/B]

The House of Representatives bestowed honors on Kagman High School student Alvie Omega Sanchez for bringing global recognition to the CNMI, following her inclusion into the 2002-2003 National Honor Roll. The 15-year-old daughter of Fernando and Vivian Sanchez was among those featured in the 2002-2003 edition of the Pennsylvania-based National Honor Roll. In a resolution offered by Rep. Pedro P. Castro, the House noted that Sanchez’ educational achievement pits her against other student achievers contending for the 25 scholarships awarded annually by the Educational Research Center of America.

The Senate passed a legislative amendment that seeks to include Rota’s Coral Garden and Pinatang Park Marine, along with its surrounding waters, as a protected area under the Managaha Marine Conservation Act. The bill, offered by Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, earned eight affirmative votes from Senate members during a session Wednesday. Senate Bill 13-25 seeks to declare the Coral Garden and Pinatang Park Marine as a conservation area in order to protect and preserve, by strict regulatory enforcement, the land and water resources for the enjoyment of future generations. The conservation measure is now before the House for action.

CPA rate study bats for debt refinancing[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority disclosed yesterday that its rate study on CNMI airports recommends reducing operating expenses and the probable refinancing of its outstanding debts. Ricondo and Associates, which conducted the rate study for CPA, had advised the CPA Board of Directors to consider refinancing CPA’s outstanding debts through the USDA Guaranteed Loan Program. The study also underscored the possibility of requesting a temporary relief from CPA’s bondholders regarding its rate covenant. Also, Ricondo and Associates recommended the immediate implementation of the Passenger Facility Charge, reduction of operating expenses at CNMI airports, and to place a time limit on the authority’s marketing incentive program.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta met with the local nurses yesterday morning following complaints of wage disparity between the locally hired and off-island hired nursing staff at the Commonwealth Health Center. Babauta was accompanied by Attorney General Pam Brown, governor’s legal counsel Steve Newman, and Office of Personnel Management director Juan I. Tenorio. Also with them were Department of Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider, deputy secretary for public health Pete Untalan, and deputy secretary for administration Jack Taitano. The meeting, attended by some 20 local nurses, came following reports that the group is planning to sue the department for the allegedly “unfair” salary scheme.

House defers action on poker arcade bill[/B]

Failing to reach a consensus, House members decided yesterday to defer action on a bill that aims to mandate the removal of poker arcades from residential villages. It may be acted on today as the House resumes its session this morning. House majority leader Rep. Oscar M. Babauta said that House Bill 14-267 addresses the concerns aired by the community on the social ills caused by poker arcades. As proposed, he said, poker shops would only be allowed to operate along the main thoroughfares, namely the Middle Road and Beach Road.

“There’s a compelling concern from the community that clients have continued to be on the rise. So we need to control it. This measure prohibits the proliferation of poker [arcades] in the residential areas,” said Babuata.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Marianas Public Lands Authority are closely watching the developments within the garment industry, although both agencies say they do not foresee the situation to cause them any major impact. CUC comptroller Sohale Samari said the utility firm could replace revenues expected to be lost from closing garment factories by hooking up hotels to the CUC grid. He noted that many hotels are currently generating their own power-instead of using CUC electricity-because CUC did not have enough capacity in the past.