FLASHBACK – May 21, 2012

Garment firm sues businessman[/B]

A garment manufacturing company is seeking to collect a debt that a local businessman allegedly owes the company dating back to October of last year. Norman Chan is allegedly indebted to plaintiff United International Corp. money in the principal sum of $10,000, together with interest thereon at the rate of nine percent per annum from October 4, 2000. The plaintiff claims it is entitled to pre-judgment interest pursuant to laws, asserting that Mr. Chan allegedly has failed, refused, neglected and still continues to fail, refuse and neglect the payment of the said amount due.

Rep. Thomas B. Pangelinan urged the House of Representatives to override Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s veto of a proposed measure designating 30 hectares of public land for the Kagman Arboretum and Community Park. In a letter to Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operation Chair Dino Jones, Mr. Pangelinan said the veto message recommended the multiple use of the public lands for jogging paths, picnic areas among others. “Simple logic does not support the installation of children’s playground facilities adjacent to farm plots that daily applies these type of chemicals,” said the lawmaker.

New facility for kids with special needs[/B]

A first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to the needs of children with disabilities has sprung to life at the former Chalan Kanoa Headstart Center through a partnership between the Public School System Special Education Program and the Saipan, Tinian and Rota Parents Organization. Both agencies celebrated yesterday their successful tie-up in a gathering that officially unveiled the newly-renovated structure, dubbed as the Parents-Teachers Training Center, located south of the Mt. Carmel Cathedral. The venue has been designed for parents and teachers, a place where they can receive training and create materials that will support the educational needs of individual students.

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded the Commonwealth Ports Authority with a $700,000-firetruck, which is hoped to enhance the emergency response ability of its Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Division. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday said the firetruck, which has a capability to hold 3,000 gallons of water, arrived Friday from Osh Kosh, Wisconsin. Salas said the truck – approved and released through an FAA grant – would supplement the existing fleet currently used by its aircraft rescue and firefighting unit. “This would enhance the ability of the ARFF to respond to emergency cases and would supplement what we already have. This is a high-tech truck that can be operated through a computer,” Salas said.

CIP workers get minimum wage hike[/B]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta issued an order yesterday raising the wage of construction workers involved in Capital Improvement Projects to the federal minimum wage level. The directive became effective yesterday. Directive No. 228 would only apply, however, to CIP projects that have not been advertised yet and to contracts not subject to advertisements, like sole source contracts, that have not yet been entered into as of yesterday. “This means that those projects that are already on the pipeline will not be affected,” said Babauta. “This will, however, be effective for all those contracts that will be initiated in the future.”

While expressing his support to the Northern Marianas College’s proposed exit examination, House education committee chairman Rep. Daniel Quitugua has suggested that the Public School System do the same assessment to ensure quality student learning. “I certainly welcome it. I just wish, though, that PSS will make that too,” he said, explaining that exit exam for students would reflect the quality of students and teachers. “It would not only tell you about the students, but also what kind of teachers are you putting in the classrooms. Teachers’ competence is reflected in the type of students they are graduating,” he said. As a whole, he said, the type of education “pretty much tells you what community you are in.” He said the NMC’s proposal to administer such exam among graduating students is a good idea.