Flashback – May 11, 2012

MAY 11, 1999

Rota Resort and Country Club faces closure

The Rota Resort and Country Club faces closure if the government would not extend its land lease agreement for another 15 years, according to legislators. Its fate is expected to be decided by next month after the Board of Public Lands has completed review of the initial 25-year lease forged with the Japanese-owned resort. SNM Corporation, which owns and operates the main tourism facility on Rota, has appealed to government officials to grant the request or “they may close down because they keep losing money,” said Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig.

Ingram’s proposal draws flak

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio is unlikely to support a proposal that would transfer to local mayors some key functions of the Department of Public Safety, saying such plan is not suited for a small community like the Northern Marianas. Public Safety Commissioner Charles Ingram has put forward the proposal in an attempt to unburden DPS with duties which he said could be taken care of by leaders of island municipalities. Ingram is looking at unloading the department of the responsibilities of ensuring boating safety, motor vehicles administration and fire fighting because of limited manpower.

May 11, 2000

Chamber seeks participation in govt policy-making

Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Lynn Knight has expressed support for a proposed measure which seeks to forge closer relations between the business community and the CNMI government. Saying the business sector has always been actively involved in assisting the government develop plans, Ms. Knight hopes that the government leaders would take their advice seriously and use the information for public benefit rather than allowing these plans gather dust on the shelves. “While we were taking time away from our businesses to support these efforts, the public officials were on the payroll and were not always mindful of the need to be efficient with our time,” she added. Ms. Knight emphasized that businesspeople can give practical advice and help government employees think creatively outside of the box of bureaucracy.

Fed training boosts SGMA’S labor compliance

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association wrapped up a training seminar last week with federal enforcement officials impressed by noticeable changes in employment conditions in Saipan’s garment sector. SGMA executive director Richard A. Pierce said more than 70 participants from 31 SGMA member factories participated in the training which dealt extensively with the association’s Code of Conduct. The code imposes rigorous measures on the garment industry to comply with all applicable local and federal labor laws. “I am very gratified to see that over the last three to four years there has been a remarkable turnaround in safety compliance, particularly in the garment industry,” commented Frank Strasheim, Region IX administrator of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA Division.

May 11, 2001

Dwindling hotel rates persist in 2000

Notwithstanding a 5.3 percent rise in visitor arrivals in calendar year 2000, CNMI tourism industry once again faced the nagging problem of falling average hotel daily rates last year. Figures submitted by the Department of Commerce showed that average hotel daily rates in 2000 declined by 11 percent from an average of $99 a year ago to an average of only $88 in 2000. It marked the third consecutive double-digit decline of average hotel daily rates in the CNMI. The fall on hotel room rates started in the first quarter of 2000 as it fell to $91 in the first three months of the year.

Revenues from travel sector to reach $200M in 5 years

The government remains confident the islands’ tourism industry will pump up revenues by at least $200 million in five years due to the anticipated success of the programs that will be carried out by the Strategic Economic Development Council. A report prepared by the Office of the Governor disclosed that revenues generated from the tourism industry are projected to reach $200 million by 2005. Following projections that visitor arrivals to the Northern Marianas will reach 810,000 in five years, the CNMI government is planning to develop 900 new tourist hotel rooms by 2004.