FLASHBACK – October 22, 2011

Oct. 22, 2001

60-MW power plant project may be shelved

A ranking official of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has dropped strong hints that the five-year-old 60-megawatt Saipan power plant project may be shelved. “That’s a big possibility,” said Frank Flores, chair of the CUC Board’s Operations Committee. The committee, he said, is now considering the recommendation of an independent consultancy firm, Burns and McDonnel, that a 60-megawatt power plant is unnecessary at this time, especially when there is an economic crisis. Flores said his committee is now considering the proposal for recommendation to the Board, which is set to convene in a special meeting on Wednesday.

Community joins fight vs domestic abuse

CNMI government leaders joined students and other members of the community in memorializing the fight against domestic violence through a candlelight vigil held Friday night at the American Memorial Park. Students and teachers of Kagman, San Antonio, Garapan, Koblerville, Oleai, Tanapag, and Dandan elementary schools joined the seventh annual Candlelight Vigil, which started with a procession from the American Memorial Park to the DFS Galleria and back to the park. A brief program, hosted by Miss CNMI-Universe Janet King and Dandan Elementary School Principal Jonas Barcinas, followed the procession.

Oct. 22, 2002

Collection of unpaid excise tax stepped up

The CNMI Division of Customs yesterday disclosed that the Commonwealth government is pursuing the collection of $56,000 in unpaid excise taxes since 1996, while some $400,000 will be due by November 2002. Customs Director Joe Mafnas emphasized that $2.2 million of the $2.7 million excise tax collectibles recently identified by the House of Representatives is now within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office. Mafnas added that some $20,000 worth of uncollected excise taxes are from businesses that have filed for bankruptcy and about $34,000 worth of excise tax receivables have already been turned over to the AGO for proper legal action.

’Guam and NMI are not in competition for US military’

Although both Guam and the Commonwealth are actively wooing the U.S. military to expand its presence in the Marianas, both Guam Rep. Robert Underwood and Gov. Juan N. Babauta refused to call it competition between the two insular areas, saying both play complementary roles in terms of accommodating the U.S. military. At the same time, Underwood clarified that he sees the expanded military presence not so much as an alternative source for tourism-based revenue but more as a revenue base. “I think it’s a base; I don’t think it’s an alternative but it’s a base. We have to develop our own economic activity independent of the military but military spending is an excellent source of revenue and continues to be so, and I think it could stand to be enhanced,” Underwood said.

Oct. 22, 2003

CNMI receives $11 million in Covenant funds for CIP

On behalf of the CNMI, Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday accepted $11 million in federal grants under the Covenant Section 702 funding that would be used for capital improvement projects across Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The chief executive sat down with Office of Insular Affairs Deputy Budget Director Tom Bussanich to pen his signature on the notification of grant award. More than half of the total amount granted to the CNMI–or $5.58 million–does not require local matching. The rest of the $5.42 million requiring CNMI matching would fund projects such as the tourism revitalization, among others.

DOL looks at employer’s marriage

The Department of Labor has asked an employer to file another permit application following findings that the registered employer has been off-island and separated physically from his nonresident wife. DOL hearing officer Linn H. Asper in a recent administrative order affirmed an earlier denial of the application filed by employer April Miranda for employee Ailene Arlay. Asper, however, allowed the employer, represented by his wife Jolly Miranda, to submit a new application within 30 days. He said the department shall process the application and shall reserve judgment on the employer’s CNMI residency status until such time that a 2004-2005 renewal application is filed for the employee.