Arianas %Rietyr;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 ~ Ews
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.JIFJMRS1rt OF HAWAII LIBRARY; arianas %rietYr;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 ~ ews DOFbares howTCGCC spent nearly $3Min9m.os By Zaldy Dandan Variety News Staff THE TINIAN Casino Gaming Control Commission (TCGCC) spent close to $3 million from Dec. 1996toSept. 1997,ofwhich over half-a-million dollars went to a consultant, according to a letter from the Finance Depart ment. During the same period, how ever, TCGCC was supposed to be operating with only $2.6 million, which was a loan it obtained from the central government. Finance Secretary Lucy DLG. Nielsen, in her letter to TCGCC last month, said Deloitte & Touche's ongoing audit of the government's finances includes President Clinton waves to the crowd at Ade/up as Gov. Carl T. C. Gutierrez, Lt. Gov. Madeleine Borda/lo and Mrs. Geri Gutierrez stand behind the commission's expenditures. him. The President spoke about returning excess military land to Guam and about consulting local government on issues affecting the Guam people. Photo by Jojo Santo Tomas Continued on page 23 : Gov't 'leniency' ; towards erring : Clinton wo\Vs Guam : officials rappedi : I, By Jojo Santo Tomas Governor's Complex at Adelup. he spoke of a pride, a pride to be has become in the last 50 years. Variety News Staff Conservative estimates listed among Americans so far away He spoke about returning ex HAGA TNA - In the largest gath the gathering at Adel up at 25,000 from the continental U.S. cess military land back to the ering of people since the Pope to welcome the most powerful He spoke of the role Guam people, and promised to ask the visited in 1980, the island turned man in the free world. played in the history of Ameri new Congress to form a task force out in full force to welcome Presi "My fellow Americans," he can, and how important that role in returning 7,200 acres of land at dent Bill Clinton. began, only to be drowned out by the Naval Air Station. More that 45,000 people braved the cheering throng waving flags Thousands brave He spoke about preparing the the scorching sun to line the streets amid a sea of bodies. the heat to catch youngsters of Guam for the 21st or gather at the Ricardo Bordallo When the cheering subsided, glimpse of Clinton century, about health benefits, and ~ .: I how he had a cou pie of years left \ ,' By Eric F. Say to make it happen. Variety News Staff And oh, how the crowd re Leo L. LaMotte HAGA TNA - Thousands of sponded. cheering people lined the motor Following his speech, Clinton By Mar-Vic C. Munar cade route that took President came down from the stage and Variety News Staff Clinton on his brief but histo1'ic shook hands with as many of the PUBLIC Auditor Leo LaMotte visit to Guam. crowd as his Secret Service agents yesterday expressed frnstra Marine Drive, the island's main would let him. tion at the government's ap thoroughfare, took on an almost As if that weren't enough, he parent laxity in dealing with eerie ambience while Guam Po- doubled back for another round officials who ignore public spending rules. Continued on page -23 Co-ntmued on page 23 The public auditor cited spc } :I•• --~ ,:· •~ ~r '. ,, ··.• •• '·1.',, • • ' ____ ._ ... " ......f'f • -• ,'., ,' : ;•H·••• '._ • .... _..··.,,L, __ ,_:,, \ ,'.,,_; .. ,~: • • -·~-· •, -··'••-' -_;.,;....l•.i ci fi cal I y a previous (1 CNMI awaits federal nod to fj administration's case involv l.i l; ing the improper purchase of airconditioners for Saipan (:J push fisheries development i'J Municipal Council. 1'1 By Jojo Dass fj LaMotte released yesterday f.( f:·'; I i Variety News Staff f j an audit repo11 which indicated Tobacco money would not start !·j TI-IE COMMONWEAL'fI-1 is awaiting the federal government's ;,; that officials under the Froilan C. Tenorio administration had kl approval of a fisheries master plan that~will allow it to open its sea 1; flowing into NMI till next year [:! boundaries to international fishing companies and develop a long- ti; completed payment for airconditioners, which accord By Haidee V. Eugenio the settlement sets a Dec. 23 f term alternative revenue source. "" IJ "As evident in the completion of the submitted master plan, the rJ ing to an earlier audit were Variety News Staff deadline for at least 80 percent procured illegally by the mu of the participating states to file ;1 government is pursuing something out of the normal means (of 1·.;~ THE ATTORNEY General's nicipal council in 1994. suit in their respective courts. re~enu~ generation like) tourism and garment (manufacturing)," t Office yesterday disclosed that In its preliminary report in the CNMI may not receive by She added that by the said said acting Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) ~4 period, the courts must already Secretary Richard Seman, in an interview. ~\ October 1996, OPA disclosed the year's end the initial dis that the airconditioners, which bursement of$202,503 from the approve the Master Settlement Seman said the marine conservation plan (MCP) is part of the :, cost $19,018, were procured $16 million share it expects out Agreement and Consent Decree, CNMI government's efforts to upgrade th!! fisheries sector, which without a public bidding. OPA of the $206 billion U.S. tobacco and any appeals must already be include a 57-page bill regulating commercial fishing activities in said the council could have settlement. resolved. Continued on page 23 · Continued on page 23 Continued on page 2-3 Asst. AG Diane Mc Devitt said i,·:) PAC NEWSPAPER STACKS 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-TUESDAY- NOVEMBER 24. 1998 ----- ----------- By Zaldy Dandan RP may see recession ideas, suggestions (on how to Variety News Staff Bermudes urges Teno to fire current Parole Board • improve) the Parole system." MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The gross national product, PAROLE Officer Jesus C. output. through to the economy. Farm production declined 3.23 in order to maintain (the board's) interest for (him) to be a member He alleged that the board has Bermudes said he was the one which includes money sent home Economists said Mondav they be- But they said the recession is The third-quarter figures are to percent in the third quarter after Bermudes has resigned, saying integrity." of the same board he is suing .... " been giving him a hard time since who came up with programs and 1 by millions of overseas Filipino ieve the Philippine ~con.omy expected to be brief. with growth be announced laterthis week. While falling I 1.2 percent in the second that no one will be "stupid enough "(More) aggressive and knowl Referring to two other board he requested the administration training for the staff and the board. slipped into recession during the workers, is expected by some likely to return in the fourth quarter the fall in agricultural output in the quarter. to work under this situation" with edgeable board members who members, Bermudes said, "I re last March not to remove.the Pa But instead of praising him for rhird quam::r bec:.JUse of heavy crop economists to have risen by up to as the impact of declining interest third quarter was not as severe as The economists forecast that the current Parole Board mem could do a better job ... should be ally do not know if they have any role Office's staff. his efforts, the board "con losses and lower manufacruring rates and a more stable peso feed many economists feared, drought 0.3 percent and by others to have bers. gross domestic product contracted appointed," he said. principles at all .... " The board "did not do anything demned" him, Bermudes said. inflicted crop losses. coupled \~ith by between 0.3 percent and 0.7 contracted by roughly the same In his "resignation/retirement" One current board member has He claimed that "so many to help the staff and I ended up adding that it "never even once a weak manufacruring sector. are percent in the third quarter after amount. letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, a pending case against the board things" have been happening with doing al I the dirty work," thought of at least-giving me merit expected to have caused the shrinking 1.2 percent in the April ATR Securities Inc. economist World Banks says a Bermudes lashed out at certain and the Civil Service Commis the board ·'in which I believe (its) Bermudes alleged. increases .... " economy to slide into recession in June period. Two successive quar Luz Lorenzo said relatively strong Parole Board members who sion, he said. obligations and responsibilities In addition, he said, the board The Variety tried but failed to the July-September period, the ters of contraction mean that an performances from the retail and "should be removed immediately "It is not only a big conflict of I are being ignored." "never once ... came up with any get a comment from the board. second crisis looms economists said. economy is in recession. Continued on page 21 . I By MARK THORNTON of the Asian miracle, tt Newcombe I CA!\1BERRA, Australia (AP) . said_ EU, Vatican urges RP to .stop executiori ! Speaker to lobby Senate not to Jurors continue to drop I. Poor people displaced by Asian He and other World Bank en , economic problems cou.ld cause vironmental experts are visiting By JIM GOMEZ crime. said the execution would likely out of Bruneman case an envirorunental crisis as they Australia hoping tofind a way.to MANILA,Philippines(AP)-The President Joseph Estrada has occur next year.