Flashback – Dec. 2002 – Dec. 2012

December 3, 2002

Private schools wants explanation on fed money from PSS
Informed that they will not be getting federal grant money for 2003 under the No Child Left Behind Law, private schools in the Northern Marianas have demanded that they be given clearer explanation by the Public School System. Board of Education chairman Herman T. Guerrero disclosed that private schools raised the issue with BOE private school representative Scott Norman, who brought up the matter during the board’s regular meeting last week. “They’re asking why this happened. They want more clarification. But we said we can’t do much about it because that’s the federal regulation,” Guerrero said. He added that some grant rules may change but not this school year.

2 kids hurt in DUI-related crash
Two young passenger-children were injured when a 26-year-old woman, who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, rammed her car into a concrete pillar in Susupe early yesterday morning. The children, reportedly not properly restrained, suffered abrasion and injuries. One of the victims—a five-year-old child—sustained massive swelling in the face. The victim was rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center for observation. The other victim—a four-year-old child—sustained abrasion to legs and arms and is now out of danger, Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Pete Muna said.

December 3, 2009

Wiseman disqualifies five NI voters, upholds two
Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman has disqualified five challenged voters and upheld two in the ongoing court battle for a single vote in the Northern Islands mayoralty race. Among the two voters Wiseman ruled as qualified voters is the Northern Islands mayor-elect Tobias Dela Cruz Aldan. Wiseman determined five voters to be disqualified and had their votes struck. Wiseman asked additional witnesses/voters to return on Monday at 9:30am for the continuation of the hearing. Attorney Robert Torres, counsel for Aldan, told Saipan Tribune there is a pending issue for the court to rule on in relation to its plan to depart from procedure, which is to determine the qualification of voters first.

Labor never issued ‘conditional umbrella permits’
The Department of Labor never issued any “conditional umbrella permits” and that no “umbrella permits” were issued after the Nov. 27, 2009, deadline, according to acting Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat yesterday. Kaipat also disclosed to Saipan Tribune that their current estimate is that more than 96 percent of eligible workers picked up their “umbrella permits.” On the “conditional umbrella permits” issue, the acting Labor Secretary said they never issued such permits and that the announcement in the newspapers about the permits was only from Attorney General Edward Buckingham.

December 3, 2012

Fitial vetoes bill strengthening laws on sex crimes
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial vetoed on Friday a bill seeking to strengthen laws on sex crimes and domestic violence, citing “some very serious concerns” that the Office of the Attorney General raised including the removal of vital definitions that would hinder prosecution. Rep. Edmund Villagomez’s (Cov-Saipan) House Bill 17-193, House Draft 1 specifically seeks to establish minimum mandatory sentences for sexual assault and sexual abuse of a minor, increase the time-served component necessary for parole eligibility, and amend existing definitions to clarify provisions relating to sex crimes and domestic violence. Villagomez is currently off-island.

15K limit on CWs justifies transition extension, reflects job losses
A 33-percent decrease in the limit on the number of foreign workers allowed in the CNMI—from 22,416 in fiscal year 2012 to 15,000 in FY 2013—is a reflection not only of severe job losses in the CNMI but also justifies repeated calls for an extension of the transitional Commonwealth-only worker program beyond 2014, stakeholders said. Richard Pierce, executive director of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, said “although it has been a long time coming, it’s good to see a number from DHS that’s based upon demand.” “More importantly, the Chamber’s membership awaits word on the extension of the transition period. That 15,000 ceiling, with the initial 22,371 nonresidents, and the 11,735 CW-1 applications received, not only indicates the overall job loss in the CNMI. It also means there’s a continuing need for skilled labor in the CNMI that cannot be met within the local population.”