FLASHBACK – Apr. 28, 2012

Boat operators hit DLNR[/B]

Five boat operators yesterday hit the Department of Lands and Natural Resources for adopting regulations that will force them to leave the Smiling Cove and relocate to the Outer Cove Marina. In a statement faxed to various media offices, the boat operators, namely, Saipan Sunset Cruise, BSEA Inc., Island Cruise Line Saipan, Abracadabra Aquaventures and Allied Marine, claimed that the proposed rules and regulations for the Outer Cove Marina were specifically adopted to save the Marine Revitalization Corp. from bankruptcy. MRC, which built the OUter Marina Cove, is a non-profit organization formed by businessman Anthony Pellegrino. To justify the issuance of the emergency rules and regulations, DLNR claimed that the Smiling Cove Marina is overcrowded, its navigational channel congested and the outer shores are dangerously eroded.

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez yesterday criticized the Commonwealth Ports Authority for being “slow” in providing incentives to airlines servicing the Northern Marianas, saying the government has been requesting them this package since last year. While CPA has agreed to slash by half the arrival and departure fees paid by the airlines, the senator believed this is not enough as the Aviation Task Force has been asking also a cut in the landing fees. “CPA has been very slow in providing these incentives,” Villagomez told in an interview, noting the task force, of which he is a member, has prodded ports authority to offer incentive package to airlines since last year to help them cope with the economic crisis.

CUC: Lack of legal counsel impedes power project[/B]

The procurement of the controversial Saipan power project now hinges on how soon the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation can find a private law firm that will guide the board in implementing the law requiring the installation of a plant with 80 megawatts capacity. The CUC board yesterday opened its search for a lawyer on island who will be hired within the next two weeks to provide legal services on such matters as the much delayed power project. Its current legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General Bill Ohle, has resigned and is expected to end his term on June after more than four years with the government-owned utility corporation.

Rota residents may face water rationing by tomorrow after the Water Cave, its prime source of tap water, has fallen “alarmingly” below the normal level in the past few weeks, according to officials. Antonio Reyes, deputy director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for the island municipality, called for immediate help from the central office to avert what he said as “inevitable” water rationing there. The measure will be implemented by Saturday, April 29, or early next week, he told a CUC board meeting yesterday. He asked the U.S. Geological Survey to pump additional 650,000 gallons a day to prevent the situation from worsening.

NMC board OKs Pacific Gateway[/B]

The Northern Marianas College Board of Regents unanimously approved Friday the NMC’s proposed Pacific Gateway program, which aims to recruit more international students to boost the college’s financial resources. “We formally adopted the Pacific Gateway project. We’ve been working on it in the last few months. We’re ready now to refer it for the Legislature’s approval and endorsement,” NMC board chairman Vince Seman said. In advocating the program, which requires an initial $10 million capital from the CNMI government, Seman said it would showcase the NMC “as a contributing member to the overall economy.”

Hakubotan, which used to be Saipan’s second biggest duty-free shop before ceasing operations locally, may be in for further distress, after the Guam Superior Court ordered it to pay close to $1.7 million to a private firm. Judge Michael J. Bordallo declared Hakubotan in default, in a lawsuit filed by the Guam Marine Salvage Services Inc. The judge also issued the judgment against businessmen Toshio and Hideko Okuhama, and Takayuki and Yuichi Takayama. The Hakubotan shop in San Jose was legally registered as Hakubotan Saipan Enterprises Inc. Its mother company, Hakubotan Enterprises Inc., is based on Guam.