Flashback – Feb. 2001-Feb. 2002

Feb. 13, 2001

House buries bill creating MVA office for Tinian, Rota

The House of Representatives yesterday tossed back to the committee legislation that the Senate amended to include the creation of separate Marianas Visitors Authority office each for Tinian and Rota, citing the need for further review. House members are concerned that the Senate’s insertion of a provision that would establish the positions of deputy managing director for the two islands would not, at all, help MVA in promoting the Northern Marianas as a destination. Rep. Heinz Hofschneider said the Senate version of House Bill 12-295 spreads MVA responsibility very thinly, adding that it does not have anything to do with enhancing tourism policies. “All it does it add personnel.”

Petition circulated to press shipment of PCB-laced soil

In a move to expedite the shipment of contaminated soil to the mainland United States, at least 50 residents of Saipan yesterday volunteered to circulate another petition letter calling for the Environmental Protection Agency’s immediate action. According to Tanapag Action Group chair Juan I. Tenorio, the group offered its help following a presentation made last week in Garapan. The group hopes to gather more than 4,000 signatures on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. This is the second petition letter that will be circulating on Saipan; the first called on old and new Tanapag residents to advocate moves to ship off tons of contaminated soil excavated from the village.

Feb. 13, 2002

Enron collapse to affect NMI

Ripples emanating from the collapse of energy giant Enron Corp. will surely reach the shores of the CNMI, signaling impending changes in the accounting profession. In light of this, Public Auditor Michael Sablan said that now would probably be a good time to revisit the idea of granting an interdisciplinary global credential that goes beyond the Certified Public Accountant credential. Sablan told members of the Marianas Institute of Filipino CPAs and Accountants that, although the Enron implosion originated in Houston, Texas, today’s greater global connectivity ensures that the fallout from the Enron scandal will affect all accounting professionals, including those in the Commonwealth.

Pete A. secures $1-M in federal funds for DEQ

WASHINGTON-Working closely with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, NMI Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio secured the early release of over $1 million in additional funds for the Division of Environmental Quality. This additional money will help the DEQ carry out major environmental projects as well as fund its operational spending, including personnel costs. By expediting the release of the money, Tenorio pointed out that there would be sufficient funds to cover payroll costs since initial grant funds were very close to complete depletion.

Feb. 13, 2003

Public hearings set for GHLI privatization

The House Committee on Health and Welfare will slate two public hearings on the proposal to privatize the Group Health and Life Insurance program, expecting a record attendance on the bill that is seen to drastically change the government health insurance system as the CNMI knows it today. Committee Chairman Benjamin Seman said the House panel will first receive testimonies on House Bill 13-243 on Feb. 18, Tuesday, at the House chamber. Another public hearing on the bill is being scheduled for March 4, after office hours. Seman said insurance companies and other public agencies have already submitted testimonies on the bill and the common sentiment has, so far, been all in favor of House Bill 13-243.

CPA gets windfall from Pongsona

The Commonwealth Ports Authority realized a positive net income of nearly half-a-million dollars during the October-December 2002 period due to high passenger traffic from Korea and Japan. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas told board members during a meeting yesterday morning that passenger traffic from Japan and Korea helped the CNMI secure 25,000 more tourists during the October-December 2002 period. The additional traffic was brought on by Guam’s inability to accommodate the visitors in the wake of supertyphoon Pongsona, which rendered various tourist areas damaged. From October 2002 to December 2002, the CPA generated $911,000, $905,000, and $926,000 respectively. During the period under review, total expenditure reached $2.2 million.