Flashback – Sept. 2008-Sept. 2010

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

19 MWs since Friday

With only one engine operating at Power Plant 1 since Friday, the island has been running on just 19 megawatts of power. As of yesterday afternoon, engine six at Power Plant 1 was the only engine working, said Antonio Muña, executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Nine of the 10 engines at Power Plant 4 continue to run. It takes about 41 megawatts to power the entire island of Saipan. This means a deficit of about 22 megawatts.

NMI govt objects to marine monument plan

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP)-The territorial government of the Northern Mariana Islands is clashing with the Bush administration and conservationists who want to protect the ocean surrounding several Pacific atolls and reefs. A delegation from Saipan made it clear last week at meetings of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force in Hawaii that they do not like the ambitious marine protection efforts of the federal government or the Pew Charitable Trust. Last Monday, Bush proposed protecting three remote island chains, including the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

Election board rescinds decision

The Commission on Election board rescinded yesterday its newly adopted emergency regulations that would have, among other things, changed the format of the ballots that would be used in the Nov. 7 elections. Faced with protesting candidates, mostly independents, the board agreed to go with the original ballot format, where the names of candidates will be grouped according to the position they’re running for. The emergency regulations would have grouped candidates according to party. In a statement issued yesterday, election board chair Frances M. Sablan informed all candidates that the commission will now “follow the intent” of Public Law 15-7 for the November election.

Sablan to seek ‘missing,’ new docs on federalization suit

Rep. Tina Sablan (I-Saipan) said yesterday she will ask the Fitial administration for “missing” records and more recent billings and payments, a day after she received and reviewed 30 pages of documents showing that the CNMI had been billed close to $400,000 between August 2008 and February 2009 by the U.S.-based law firm representing the Commonwealth in its fight against federalization. “There appears to be significant gaps in the records released so far,” she said, adding that the decision of the CNMI Supreme Court and the Superior Courts is a “significant win for good governance and the right of the people to be informed and retain control over the government that serves them.” Press secretary Charles Reyes, when asked for comment, said the Fitial administration welcomes Sablan’s request for additional documents.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

‘From rags to riches and back to rags in 30 years’

In a span of 30 years, the CNMI has gone from rags to riches and is now nearly back to rags. That’s how Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Douglas Brennan described the CNMI economy in his address yesterday to members of the largest business organization in the islands with some 150 members. Between the early ’80s and into the ’90s, the CNMI rose from obscurity to being the “brightest star on the Pacific horizon,” he said, referring to the development of the garment and tourism industries. A combination of factors, including the Asian economic crisis, 9/11 attacks, SARS, the pullout of Japan Airlines, and poor advance planning combined to cause a spiraling fall into recession by 2000.

Saipan Tribune launches ‘Partners in Education’ campaign

The Saipan Tribune is proud to announce the launching of its “Partners In Education” program for school year 2010-2011. Any interested companies and/or individuals may sponsor one or multiple copies of the Saipan Tribune for donation to any educational institution on Saipan. The newspaper is the most current textbook available for students. The Saipan Tribune, along with the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, launched this pilot program at the Dandan Elementary School in 2009, much to the delight of the teachers and students alike. Teachers were able to read current stories to their students and explain issues surrounding the environment, economy, and government operations. Students enjoyed reading and using the newspapers for special projects and reports.