Flashback – Feb. 1999-Feb. 2001

Feb. 22, 1999

Bill provides compensation, repatriation costs for workers

An administration-sponsored legislation will seek compensation of up to $3,000 in unpaid wages and repatriation cost for foreign workers with pending monetary awards against their bankrupt employers following an agreement between the CNMI and U.S. legislators. The House of the Representatives and the Senate held a back-to-back emergency session on Friday to vote on the measure in a move they said was recommended by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) and members of the House Resources Committee who visited the CNMI last week. “We were reminded that there is still a situation and we wanted to show our cooperation with this delegation,” said House Speaker Diego T. Benavente, author of the bill.

HEW resumes hearing today

The House committee on Health, Education and Welfare resumes its oversight hearing at 10 a.m. today at the House chamber, focusing chiefly on personnel policy of the Northern Marianas College, according to officials. The panel is wrapping up its investigation of the financially troubled state college as requested by NMC officials, particularly board regents, who have complained of the time they have spent in attending the hearing that began on January 28. So far, the committee, chaired by Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, has provided evidence that may seem to bolster allegations of mismanagement of CNMI’s lone higher learning institution — charged repeatedly denied by college officials.

Feb. 22, 2000

Senate asked to hold off CUC oversight

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications yesterday asked his fellow lawmakers to hold off their planned oversight into the controversies surrounding the Saipan power project pending completion of an investigation being conducted by the Office of the Public Auditor. Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez believes that the Legislature should focus on more important issues and give OPA the responsibility of looking into the project. The Attorney General’s Office has made its own investigation earlier but has yet to submit a written report on its findings.

SBA to sign pact on SBDC transfer to CDA next month

An agreement which will clear the road for the final transfer of the federally-funded Small Business Development Center from the Northern Marianas College to the Commonwealth Development Authority is expected to be signed next month. Board Chair John S. Tenorio said the Small Business Administration and CDA are already finalizing discussions on some provisions contained in the transfer agreement which will be signed by middle of March. Mr. Tenorio said SBDC equipment, which are currently housed inside the facility within the NMC campus ,will be transported to the CDA office in Gualo Rai by end of this month.

Feb. 22, 2001

US balks at fund request from Northern Islands

Despite utilization of Northern Islands for military operations, the local government disclosed that the United States military denied the requested assistance made by local officials for the holding of a geological hazard assessment of former military depot. Northern Islands Mayor Joseph T. Ogumoro said the defense department junked the recent plea made by the local administration for assistance in utilizing Navy personnel for construction and renovation of port facilities. In addition to this, the department also trashed out request for technical assistance grant from the US Department of the Interior to conduct hazard evaluation prior to resettlement and implementation of economic activities.

Fund asked: Pinpoint persons downed by tobacco

It would be difficult for the Group Health and Life Insurance Branch to identify program subscribers who suffered complications and ailments as a result of cigarette smoking. The admission was made yesterday by Retirement Fund Administrator Juan S. Torres in response to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare’s recommendations made during the public hearing on the establishment of a Master Settlement Agreement Trust Fund. While recognizing the fact that the apportioned 30 percent from the tobacco settlement will help the GHLI pay off over $4 million obligations to health providers, Torres said it will entail a lot of time for the insurance program to evaluate each claims.