Flashback – June 2006 – June 2008

June 27, 2006

Fund taps $1.3M of assets
The NMI Retirement Fund board approved Friday the release of $1.3 million in investment money for pension payments this week. Fund administrator Karl T. Reyes said yesterday that the money is part of “excess” funds from the NMIRF’s investment portfolio. The Fund board earlier identified $14.4 million in “excess” investment monies for pension use up to September this year.

‘We will pursue govt collections’
The NMI Retirement Fund said it would soon pursue legal action—either a petition for a temporary restraining order, a lawsuit, or both—against the central government following the enactment of a law suspending its employer contribution to the Fund. “The board has taken the position to contest and challenge the action of the government. We are going to push through our collections with the government,” said Fund board chair Joseph Reyes in an interview yesterday. The board held a special meeting Friday last week to discuss the matter. He could not say exactly when the Fund will file the restraining order or the lawsuit, saying the agency’s attorneys are still working on it.

June 27, 2007

CNMI offline for hours
The CNMI went offline for hours due to an “unforeseen” technical problem that beleaguered Pacific Telecom, Inc. early morning yesterday and created a communication vacuum that befuddled business establishments and offices on the three islands. At 10:30am yesterday, the islands went offline losing all Internet connection and services and some cellular communications. Internet connection and services resumed at around 8pm yesterday. PTI regional marketing manager Kathryn Barry said the company worked round the clock on the connectivity issues between the CNMI and Guam.

Downed voltage line causes islandwide outages
A downed high voltage primary power line in Chalan Kiya triggered island-wide outages on Saipan yesterday. Of eight electrical grids, only one was spared by outages that happened between 12:56am to 5:34am. The areas not affected were the Commonwealth Health Center, Chinatown, Navy Hill, and parts of Garapan or the Duty Free area. Commonwealth Utilities Corp. spokesperson Pamela Mathis told Saipan Tribune that a tree caused the high voltage line in the golf area behind McDonald’s to fall at 12:56am. Mathis said as a result, they lost the 13-megawatt generator at Power Plant 4 in Puerto Rico instantaneously.

June 27, 2008

For some workers, wages are still at $3.05 an hour
Hikes in the local minimum wage have put a strain on scores of businesses in the Commonwealth, yet labor activists report some are skirting the recent increases by secretly paying workers less than the law requires. “We wish this wasn’t happening but we know for a fact that it is,” said Irene Tantiado, president of the Coalition of United Workers, a local labor group. Informants have reported that at least three restaurants, a major construction company and a private security company on Saipan are paying workers less than the current minimum wage, she said, adding that it is likely many more violators of the law remain hidden.

US Army, NMI to ink community covenant
The U.S. Army and local officials will formalize their support for the Commonwealth’s soldiers, other service members, and their families by signing the Army Community Covenant next week. The Covenant is “designed to develop and foster effective government and community partnership with the Army in improving the quality of life for soldiers, other servicemembers and their families both at the current duty station and as they transfer from state to state and deployment,” according to information from the Army. The Covenant is an Army initiative, and intended to be hosted and led by the community. It is a formal commitment of support by the sate and local community to the soldiers, other servicemembers in active duty, guard and reserve. The document is being signed at every installation across the country. The CNMI signing ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2008, starting at 10am, at the American Memorial Park amphitheater.