Flashback May 2000-May 2002

CDA expects delinquency rate to exceed 15%[/B]

The Commonwealth Development Authority is expecting the delinquency rate for the month of April to exceed the 15 percent registered during the first three months of the year due to the persistently slow rally of the local economy. “The delinquency rate for the month of April is very high because most clients are not paying in their regular monthly obligation,” said CDA Executive Director Marylou S. Ada in an interview. Ms. Ada said the anticipated increase in the delinquency rate is a result of the ongoing discussions with existing borrowers who have been asking CDA for a reduction in monthly amortization because of low investment turnout.

Lawmakers and administration officials are still holding talks on the FY 2000 budget package approved recently by the Legislature in hopes to bridge differences before the deadline expires for Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s signature. A meeting is scheduled to be held today between House leaders and Mike S. Sablan, special advisor for finance and budget, and Edward S. Tenorio, special assistant for management and budget, to further discuss a possible compromise. The governor earlier has expressed concern over some administrative provisions of the budget bill that legislators passed last May 11, but he did not provide details.

SGMA reports inspection findings to OSHA[/B]

A top official of US Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is visiting the island to discuss workplace issues with leaders of the Saipan garment manufacturing industry. OSHA Region IX Deputy Administrator Christopher Lee met Friday with SGMA Executive Director Richard A. Pierce and Excellence 2000 Partnership Committee members Joe Salas and Patricia Concepcion at SGMA’s Gualo Rai office. In the meeting, Mr. Lee was presented progress reports on the inspections the committee recently conducted at all 23 Excellence 2000 partner factories.

The House of Representatives yesterday gave Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio additional power to reprogram funds guaranteed under Public Law 11-119 to expedite the renovation of the old Adult Corrections building in Susupe. House Bill 12-389, aimed at amending PL 11-119 Section 7, gives the governor the needed flexibility to appropriate funds generated by the Commonwealth Development Authority to finance Capital Improvement Projects. Introduced by Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, HB 12-389 authorizes Mr. Tenorio to reprogram $218,000 from the CIP funds to proceed with the renovation of the Adult Corrections.

Heinz: $2M for Tinian is really no loss[/B]

Politics aside, the allocation of the $2 million Compact Impact payments to the Tinian High School is no loss since the money is going into education—one of the priorities identified by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation in the allocation of the Compact Impact funds. House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider stressed this point, adding that, if the money goes toward educating the children on Tinian, they will, in turn, contribute to the welfare of the Commonwealth as a whole. Hofschneider said, however, that one can also make the argument that using the money to finish the Tinian High School may be inappropriate, as one can also look at other sources of money to accomplish the same objective, such as the Capital Improvement Program funds, which are geared more toward these types of projects.

Former Retirement Fund board member Charles P. Reyes is suing the Outrigger Guam Resort for negligence in connection with a 2000 bathroom mishap that reportedly left Reyes severely injured. The plaintiff, through counsel Edward C. Arriola, initiated a $74,950-civil action suit against the Outrigger Guam L.P. before the Superior Court, blaming the latter for allegedly being “reckless, careless and negligent in permitting dangerous conditions to exist” under its establishment. According to court documents, Reyes slipped inside the Tumon-based hotel’s bathroom while showering in May 2000. The plaintiff said he fell violently and with great force on the corner of the bathtub and suffered severe injuries to the elbow, shoulders and head.