FLASHBACK – Jun. 23, 2012

Jun. 23, 2003

CUC board wants DEQ violations explained

Seeking for explanation themselves, members of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors demanded that the CUC management give them a detailed presentation about the reported numerous violations of the utility firm on water regulations. This even as CUC executive director Lorraine A. Babauta assured the board during a meeting last week that her office has been addressing the Division of Environmental Quality’s concerns over CUC’s water compliance. “We’ve been going about it point by point. Basically, it’s a result of a procedural lapse and DEQ is saying that information was not provided in a timely manner,” said Babauta.

Anatahan erupts during EMO, USGS visit

Anatahan’s volcano continued to display fury, erupting with a loud bang while a government team was conducting an overflight on the island last week, the Emergency Management Office said yesterday. Juan Takai Camacho, the EMO’s geophysical seismic technician, said a joint team from his agency and the U.S. Geological Service was flying over Anatahan Monday when the loud explosion was heard. The eruption did not bungle the mission, and no casualty was reported. “I was monitoring the signal,” said Camacho, when he heard the bang.

Jun. 23, 2004

Over 1K WWII items featured at NMI Museum

Exhibit curator Noel B. Quitugua shows off the 1,005 artifacts, pictures, models, and documents of life before, during, and after World War II on the Northern Marianas at the CNMI Museum of History and Culture. (Photo by Shan Seman) About 1,005 artifacts, pictures, models, and documents of life before, during, and after World War II on the Northern Marianas are currently on display at the CNMI Museum of History and Culture as part of commemorations for the 60th anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian. According to exhibit curator Noel B. Quitugua, the exhibit aims to present the transition from the Japanese Administration to the American Administration. “This exhibit features items showing the ways of life in the CNMI during the prosperous years under the Japanese, the war, the aftermath of the war, the camps that were created, all the way to the signing of the Covenant,” he said.

Court denies land claim that was filed 30 years late

The CNMI Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision denying the claim of a woman over two parcels of land in Dandan, saying the filing of the claim was 30 years late. The High Court effectively affirmed the government’s ownership of the lots, which have been administered by the Marianas Public Lands Authority and its predecessor agencies. The court rendered the decision in an appeal filed by Magdalena A. Flores on the trial court’s judgment in favor of the CNMI government and MPLA’s predecessor, the Division of Public Lands.

Jun. 23, 2005

Lizama declines to force Govendo’s recusal

Superior Court judge Juan T. Lizama refrained from compelling fellow judge Kenneth Govendo to recuse himself from handling the lawsuit filed by former Marianas Public Lands Authority commissioner Henry Hofschneider against the MPLA and its chair, Ana Demapan-Castro. Lizama said it is up to Govendo to decide whether or not he would recuse himself from the case, after the MPLA accused the latter of bias against it. Lizama said his court did not find any legal basis for Govendo to recuse himself from the case.

GOP tandem declines gubernatorial forum

Gov. Juan N. Babauta has declined to attend a forum for gubernatorial candidates today that is sponsored by the CNMI Bar Association “due to a prior engagement.” The forum will take place during the association’s general membership meeting at noon at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. In a letter to association president Edward Manibusan yesterday, Babauta said that both he and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente are set to attend the general membership meeting of the Marianas Visitors Authority at the same time today at Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach. “I regret to inform you that the Lt. Governor and I will not be able to attend due to a prior engagement. We are scheduled to attend the MVA bi-annual general membership meeting to brief the members on details of the new agreements with Northwest Airlines to replace Japan Airlines,” he said.