Flashback — Nov. 2005-Nov. 2007

Three killed in vehicular accident[/B]

Three persons were killed while one was seriously injured in a vehicular accident along Beach Road in Chalan Laulau on early morning Sunday. Acting Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David said the fatalities—two men and a woman—suffered severe injuries to the head and body and were pronounced dead on that same day at the Commonwealth Health Center. David said the fatalities, all Chinese workers aged 26 and 27, were on board a white 1997 four-door Honda Civic sedan. The DPS spokesman said the identities of the three will not be released to the media until their next of kin have been notified.

A disease mostly found in adults, called Acanthosis Nigricans, was discovered in children in the CNMI during the 2005 Health Survey for the Children conducted throughout Commonwealth. Dr. Rachel Novotny of the University of Hawaii presented the preliminary data on the Health Pacific Child Project Survey at the Office on Aging’s Man’amko Center yesterday morning. Novotny said although among the 420 respondents in the survey only nine cases were identified to have the skin discoloration disease. Novotny said seven of the nine children with the disease were boys and two were girls and seven among the nine were above eight years old.
[B] November 29, 2006

NMI strategizes on wage hike[/B]

Business and government leaders plan to hire consultants, including an economist and a Washington D.C.-based legal firm, to fight against a move to impose federal minimum wage and immigration control in the CNMI.
This was discussed during yesterday’s Strategic Economic Development Council meeting at the Governor’s Office on Capital Hill. The meeting was attended by business owners and executives, as well as lawmakers and other government officials. “The recommendation is to hire an economist from either University of Guam or University of Hawaii to do an economic study of the CNMI, make economic projections. It’s important that we use credible reports when we present our case in Congress,” said Saipan Chamber of Commerce president-elect Juan “Pan” Guerrero, who was present in yesterday’s SEDC meeting.

At least 15 private and public schools and groups in the CNMI will gather at the Paseo De Marianas today to spiff up the area with Christmas decorations. Division of Environmental Quality public information officer Reina Camacho said the project is part of the first Christmas Festival that will be held in Garapan. The project is spearheaded by Paseo de Marianas Promoters Inc. Spokesperson Misako Kamata said the group is a non-profit corporation that was set up to erase the negative perceptions of Saipan, especially the Garapan district. “The project aims to promote it as a safe and healthy area for the local community and tourists, being a family-oriented place,” said Kamata.
[B] November 29, 2007

Shell breaks through $4 barrier[/B]

Pump prices for select fuel types broke through the psychological $4 barrier yesterday after Shell Marianas raised its pump prices by 10 cents, marking the third time this month that the company increased its retail prices on Saipan. The 10-cent increase, effective last night, applies to gallon prices for regular, premium, and diesel fuel. Shell’s price for self-service regular gasoline is now at $3.869 a gallon, while self-service premium gas is now at $4.059 a gallon. For full service, Shell’s price for regular will now be $3.999, while premium is at $4.179. Shell’s diesel will now be at $4.139 per gallon.

Representative-elect Tina Sablan will lead the CNMI’s first unity march to dramatize protest against the new local labor law and to express support for the extension of federal immigration law to the Commonwealth. In a news briefing yesterday morning at a pavilion along Beach Road in Garapan, Sablan described the march as “a historic and peaceful demonstration” for labor and immigration reform. It will be held on Dec. 7, Friday, starting at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach and moving down Beach Road to the American Memorial Park.