FLASHBACK – Jun. 11, 2012

CNMI’s investment potential gets boost from APPU[/B]

The recently-held Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union has afforded the CNMI a chance to attract interests from lawmakers in the region who could help the government promote tourism and investment potential of the island. This was the assessment of Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, chair of the steering committee of the 65th Council Meeting of APPU, an organization of legislators in 23 countries from across Asia and the Pacific. “I am very satisfied with the result of the meeting,” he said in an interview, adding it has reaffirmed the mutual interests of all member nations of APPU.

After years of neglect, the beach area on the island’s commercial district of Garapan will finally get a facelift with tourism and environment officials working out a plan that will also ensure the safety of the tourist. Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Perry J. Tenorio said Garapan’s beach area from Dai-Ichi to Hyatt Hotels will be included in the beautification project of the commercial district. According to MVA managing director Perry J. Tenorio, the tourism agency has tapped the Coastal Resources Management’s help in making sure that the banana boat and jet ski operators do not cause any accident to tourists who are swimming within the area.

SGMA reinstates factory into association[/B]

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association has reinstated Mariana Fashions, Inc. into its membership rankings after lengthy technical discussions with the association’s Board of Directors, SGMA’s compliance committee, and factory owners and management. The company had petitioned SGMA for re-entry, as stipulated in MFI’s suspension order from SGMA, effective May 3, 2002. The firm was re-entered as a “Member in Partial Compliance” under the adopted Association and Committee Rules. In announcing MFI’s re-entry, SGMA Chairman James C. Lin said, “With the collaborative effort of our association’s compliance committee, and the factory’s willingness to come into compliance with the SGMA Code of Conduct, we have demonstrated the ability of our internal programs to re-claim this factory, its jobs and the revenue it provides to the island.”

The Commonwealth’s chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management, the CNMI’s professional personnel organization, will hold its monthly membership meeting on Thursday, June 13, at the Giovanni’s Restaurant of the Hyatt Regency Saipan. First speaker on the agenda is Ron Smith of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. Smith will provide a synopsis of the Chamber’s new website “Jobs On-Line” and how CNMI employers can access the web site and use it to post job vacancies. The main focus of the luncheon meeting will be lead by Takeo George, manager of the CNMI Workers Compensation Commission.

BoS checks now OK with 3 local banks[/B]

The Bank of Saipan yesterday disclosed that it has reestablished local check-clearing relationships with most Northern Marianas-based banking institutions, adding that some businesses have also resumed accepting new BoS checks. BoS receiver Antonio Muna said that the bank has reestablished local check-clearing ties with the Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, and City Trust Bank since Wednesday last week, which means that BoS checks may now be deposited in and cleared with these banking companies. Earlier, the BoS has reestablished relationship with the Federal Reserve Bank, allowing for the clearing of its checks off-island.

Airlines companies have been advised that violation of the existing ban on travelers from SARS hotspots would be meted out with penalties, including costs on passenger repatriation processes. In a letter addressed to all airline companies, acting director of immigration Antonio Sablan said airline companies servicing the Northern Marianas are ordered to refrain from bringing in passengers from areas with severe acute respiratory symptom like China, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Taiwan. Sablan said the travel ban applies to all non-U.S. citizens, including those with valid authorization for entry, authorization to board, re-entry letters, valid entry permits, and valid U.S. visas.