Flashback – June 2006-June 2008

June 4, 2006

Emergency payment for pensions—again

The NMI Retirement Fund said it has again withdrawn funds amounting to $1.3 million from its emergency account to pay the retirees’ pension Tuesday last week. This was the fourth time for the agency to tap its reserve account for pension obligations this year. In the middle of May, the Fund took some $1.5 million from the same account to settle the government’s pension liability to some 2,000 retirees. The Fund pays out $2.3 million for pension a month. Fund administrator Karl T. Reyes said the board authorized the last drawdown of $1.3 million for pension payments last week.

Asian groups want to build govt center

At least two Asian firms have expressed interest to build the CNMI government’s proposed multi-million capitol building on Saipan. Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who arrived Friday morning from a visit to Manila and Hong Kong, said that both Prime Asia and Shanghai-based Jin Jang company want to submit bids for the project. “Prime Asia, a construction company, has expressed their interest to participate. Jin Jang is also interested,” said Fitial during a news briefing Friday afternoon. He said the proposed project would cost $18 million to $22 million.

June 4, 2007

Rota pushes vote on casino gaming anew

The Rota municipal government is pushing anew a vote on casino gaming on the island. Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos submitted to the Attorney General’s Office last week a petition establishing casino gambling in the First Senatorial District. The petition was signed by some 300—or 20 percent—of the Rota voters. If certified, the local initiative will be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 3 midterm election. To become law, the local initiative must be approved by at least two-thirds of Rota voters. As of May 30, 2007, Rota had 1,429 registered voters, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission. The proposed local initiative is similar to Rep. Crispin M. Ogo casino bill, which has been awaiting action in the House of Representatives since January 2007.

Worker told to leave CNMI as Labor ends 5-year-old case

A foreign worker, who has been working almost continuously under a temporary work permit for the past five years, was ordered to depart the CNMI. This came after the Department of Labor resolved the 2002 case and denied Angelina C. Montano’s request for authorization to transfer to a new employer. In a May 29, 2007 order, hearing officer Barry Hirshbein instructed Montano’s last employer of record to provide an airline ticket for her trip back home. He said Montano must leave within 15 days after her repatriation ticket is delivered to the Labor Department. Otherwise, her name would be referred to the Division of Immigration.

June 4, 2008

‘Stimulus’ hopefuls rush to correct deficiencies

The long lines are back at the Division of Revenue and Taxation, as taxpayers come to file their income tax returns and correct deficiencies that prevent them from getting their “economic stimulus” payments. The U.S. Department of Treasury allocated roughly $16.1 million in “economic stimulus” payments for taxpayers in the Northern Marianas. Some 11,000 checks, about half of those who have filed their 2007 income tax returns, reached individuals last weekend. Finance Secretary Eloy S. Inos has said some 12,000 of the filings had deficiencies.

16 Korean travel agents head for NMI

Sixteen travel agents that sell the Northern Marianas products in Busan, Korea will be on Saipan and Tinian for a familiarization tour on June 8 – 12. Accompanying the group is a Marianas Visitors Authority Korea staff, one Asiana Airlines staff, one trade newspaper, one regional newspaper and one travel magazine, bringing the group total to 21. MVA believes that this familiarization tour will give the travel agents a first-hand experience of the various attractions Northern Marianas has to offer. This will help them promote the destination better to the consumers in the southern part of Korea. This tour will also serve to strengthen MVA’s relationship with the travel agents from Busan whose partnership is becoming more important as the number of Korean tourists to the islands is growing quickly.