Flashback – Dec. 1999-Dec. 2003

Dec. 16, 1999

CUC’s plan to scale back 80-MW project questioned

Denying accusations that lobbyists were behind efforts to press the initial plan on the controversial Saipan power project, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes has questioned moves by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to scale it back when it had insisted it was needed just a few months ago. He also said that he agreed with the decision by the government corporation to re-assess the entire project before pursuing its next step, but added that this should have been undertaken earlier when the independent evaluation was ongoing. Mr. Reyes has been in favor of holding oversight hearings on the project that has come under a storm of protests due to the initial review by CUC on all proposals submitted by 13 firms.

Bill eyes cap on recruitment fees

Due to the skyrocketing fees charged by local recruiters to foreign workers for jobs in the CNMI, lawmakers are seeking to cap the fee to an amount equivalent to a one month salary in a bid to stop the practice of milking hapless nonresidents who want to get employed on the island. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Karl T. Reyes, will also seek stiffer penalties against violators with a fine of not more than $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three years. According to its proponent, House Bill 11-503 is part of the efforts of the Department of Labor and Immigration to reform local labor policies and curb abuses against nonresident workers on the island.

Dec. 16, 2002

PSS eyes model school for NMI’s gifted children

The Public School System aims to develop a new school that caters only to talented and gifted children. Board of Education chairman Herman T. Guerrero said Friday that the issue has been discussed by the board and other key PSS to be able to meet the needs of that particular group of students in the CNMI. Failure to adequately address the need of the “genius type” students would cause some of them to wander rather than focus on regular classroom lessons. “They get bored if they’re not challenged in regular classrooms,” said Guerrero. He said the discussion on the creation of the school is still in the exploratory stage.

Less than half of homestead permits approved

The Marianas Public Lands Authority has issued 127 homestead permits, reflecting a less than 50 accomplishment rate compared to the total number of applications received in fiscal year 2002. The figure covers Saipan with 99 permits issued and Tinian with 36. Information on Rota was not immediately available, the MPLA said. On Saipan, the MPLA received 254 applications from October 2001 to September 2002, while on Tinian, 36 applications came in. Rota had 96 applications for homestead projects. On agricultural projects, the MPLA on Tinian received two applicants while Rota had 192.

Dec. 16, 2003

US House to hold hearing on NMI health issues

Following yesterday’s visit to Saipan, Indiana Republican congressman Daniel Burton said he intends to hold a congressional hearing to help address various CNMI health-related issues, particularly the Commonwealth Health Center’s inadequate facilities for dialysis patients as well as the alarming incidence of diabetes on the islands. “I’m going to do what I can when I go back to Washington to get our health agencies to pay more attention to this area. As a matter of fact, I think I’m going to hold a hearing in late January or early February on the health problems in this region. Hopefully, we’ll be able to shake loose more money to help solve the problems over here,” Burton told reporters. The Indiana congressman, together with Gov. Juan N. Babauta, Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider, and other local officials, toured the CHC yesterday morning.

CDA sues debtors to collect $800K

The Commonwealth Develop-ment Authority has sued two sets of debtors at the Superior Court to collect unpaid loans amounting to more than $800,000. In one of the two lawsuits, the CDA impleaded Juan M. and Mariana D. San Nicolas to collect at least $759,066.96, inclusive of interests and charges. The debt stemmed from the defendants’ acquisition of two loans amounting to $525,000 and $51,975. The defendants obtained the bigger loan on Feb. 24, 1999, while the second one was acquired on Jan. 4, 2000.