FLASHBACK – Dec. 23, 2011

’Rota power 95 percent restored’

Residential areas and businesses on Rota, particularly in Sinapalo, have been reconnected to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. earlier than expected, utility officials said. CUC executive director Lorraine A. Babauta said Friday that CUC power on Rota, especially in Sinapalo, was 95-percent restored. The CUC earlier projected that power services on the island would not be up until after Christmas. “I’d say it’s earlier than expected because it’s already 95-percent complete. This is because they have dried out the system fast. We’re hoping to finish all repair work as soon as possible,” she said in an interview.

PSS asked to be more pushy in raising funds

Public School System officials, including school principals, are asked to aggressively look for alternative funding to be able to meet PSS needs amid the continuing fiscal crisis. This, even as the Board of Education has admitted that private schools get more donations from private businesses than the PSS through the educational tax incentive program. BOE chairman Herman T. Guerrero said during a board meeting Thursday that the PSS needs to be more aggressive in raising funds to supplement its current budget.

Dec. 23, 2003

Tourism TF eyed to address guests’ security

A tourism consultant has suggested the creation of a tourism task force to better address security for travelers, which could have short- and long-term effects on the industry. Sociologist Peter E. Tarlow, PhD., founder and chief executive officer of Tourism and More Consulting Service, said this in his presentation at the Tourism Conference held Friday at the Sandcastle Saipan. “People who should be on this task force are local officials, tourism officials, and transportation officials. Many government agencies are there to help local community officials and businesses,” Tarlow said.

Increased police visibility lauded

In relation to the recent outbreak of car break-in cases in some of the island’s tourist spots, the Japan Saipan Travel Association lauded the Department of Public Safety’s quick action to curb such incidents that usually victimize visitors. JSTA is a local association established in 1992 for the purpose of promoting tourism in the CNMI by inviting as many Japanese tourists as possible. “So naturally, JSTA is very much concerned about the safety and comfort of the tourists,” said JALPAK general manager and JSTA president Motoyuki Osawa.

Dec. 23, 2004

’Removal of negative status next project’

Having succeeded in getting its airport revenue bonds off the credit watch list, the Commonwealth Ports Authority now has its eyes set on reversing the negative outlook given to its bonds by Fitch Ratings. CPA executive director Carlos Salas expressed confidence yesterday that Fitch would give CPA a better outlook rating if the authority manages to comply with its bond coverage ratio this year. “We got the negative outlook because of our two years of noncompliance to the debt service coverage requirement. We finally met the requirement in 2004; perhaps another year of compliance will make Fitch more comfortable,” Salas said. International credit rating agency Fitch Ratings announced on Monday that it has removed CPA from negative watch, following CPA’s rebounding enplanement levels, recovering financial position, and the scheduled implementation of a $4.50 terminal fee in 2005.

House defers action on land lease extension initiatives