FLASHBACK – April 24, 2012

Only 3 NMI public schools have ideal class size[/B]

In what appears to be an indication of classroom and teacher shortage in the islands, government records disclosed that only three public schools in the Northern Marianas have reached the ideal size of classes at 15 students per section. All three schools are incidentally outside Saipan where majority of the NMI population are concentrated, according to official statistics from the Public School System. Several government and private studies conducted in the mainland United States noted that class size has to be 15 or fewer to have a significant impact on student achievement. This means that only Rota Elementary and Junior High School, Rota High School and Tinian Junior and High School have achieved the most ideal size of an education class.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority expects to gain substantial savings from the Commonwealth Development Authority’s recent move to reduce 2.5 percent per annum its adjusted loan balance used up for the completion of the Saipan Harbor Improvement Project (SHIP). CDA approved the interest rate reduction upon CPA’s request, to take effect retroactively from November 16, 1996 until such time that the outstanding balance is paid in full. Originally at 5 percent, the interest rate reduction dipped to a mere 2.5 percent per annum, compounded quarterly. CPA currently has over $10,186,334.63 adjusted loan balance from the $43 million harbor improvement project.

CDA files $103M suit against CUC[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority has handed over to the court’s judgment a long-standing debt, accrued over a 13-year period, that the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has allegedly failed to settle with the government-run lending agency. The plaintiff, in a civil court complaint filed yesterday, is seeking to recoup over $103 million from CUC based on three separate loan agreements both autonomous agencies entered into on three isolated occasions. Further, the development authority has demanded to the court that a business entity be appointed to manage the operation of CUC.

The United States Department of Agriculture has warned that the foot and mouth epidemic and other infected meat products continue to be a major concern due to lenient quarantine procedures. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services and Plant Protection and Quarantine Director Mitchell G. Nelson renewed calls for the CNMI quarantine division to inspect all incoming cargoes especially crates of goods coming from foreign countries. He said the greatest danger in the CNMI is bypassing inspection and according VIP treatment to arriving dignitaries or officials from other countries.

‘This gov’t supports equal employment for all'[/B]

Underscoring its commitment to the principles of equal employment, the Babauta administration has directed the creation of an equal employment opportunity organization in each department, activity and autonomous agency within the Executive Branch. Such an organization will be tasked to establish its own equal employment opportunity program and structure that would provide an administrative procedure for settling complaints of employment discrimination, harassment, or coercion. Gov. Juan N. Babauta said this is in line with the intent of the CNMI Equal Employment Opportunity Program, which requires that nondiscrimination be exercised in all government employment practices.

The Marianas Visitors Authority will tap the assistance of US embassies in China to promote the Northern Marianas as a premier tropical destination for Chinese travelers. This, as MVA Acting Managing Director Vicky Benavente vowed to reconstruct marketing and promotional funds that will be distributed evenly to all existing and new markets. Following the inaugural flight of the China Southern Air to the Northern Marianas Saturday, the MVA saw the need to reconstruct funding allocation to all key markets-including China. Benavente said the MVA is waiting for the complete resolution of all navigational concerns between the U.S. and China before full-blast promotional activities are undertaken in other major Chinese cities.