¿Marianas 'Variety*^ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 P.O
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¿ /M arian as c V a rie tvs Micronesia’sM trfA nocía’c Leadingf oarlînn NewspaperM ûiircnanâ·1 Since^iînro 19721 Q 79 v ie w s VoL 28 Ho. 8} Saipan, MP 96950 © 1991 Marianos Variety Decem ber 27, 1 9 9 1 Serving CHMI iôrl9¥êart Governor defies IG subpoena by Rafael H. Arroyo, before IG Regional Audit Su sponsibilities as governor, I must so. On August 20; 1991, the This restraining order was re- * pervisor WalterB. Haughtatthe respectfully decline to make the Commonwealth Supreme Court affirmed to continue in effect Governor Lorenzo I. DL. Saipan Suboffice on December documents available,” Guerrero issued a restraining order which after the Supreme Court of the Guerrero last Monday refused to 23,1991 at 10:00 a.m. said in his letter to Richards. preempts the disclosure of all C N M I came out with another honor a subpoena issued out by He was being made to deliver Legally, the governor may be income tax return documen ts and order dated December 26,1991. the Inspector General of the US or produce for inspection “any impeded to disclose the said information to any person or “That order remains in effect Interior Department saying that and all information, records, documents due to an existing entity not authorized by Com and I must comply with it,” said he can not make taxpayers’ in accounts, and other data”, relat court order that forbids him to do monwealth law. Continued on page 34 come tax returns and return ing to the administration of the information available for a Commonwealth’s income tax planned IG audit since this would system, the training of personnel run counter to established laws involved in administering the of the Commonwealth. income tax system, and the en In a letter to Inspector General forcement of the income tax James R. Richards, Guerrero system for the years 1989,1990, reiterated the CNMI and 1991. government’s position that the In rejecting the IG subpoena, IG does not have the authority to Guerrero hinted that he can not audit non-federally funded pro turn his back on established laws grams and finances. of the Commonwealth, which The subpoena, which was may be negated if he heeded the served last December 13, com demands of the summons. manded the governor of the “After careful consideration Northern Marianas to appear of the subpoena and of my re- A dream com es tru e as public library opens by Rafael H. Arroyo Tycoons Manny “Kiyu" Villagomez (left) and Jose “Joeten” Tenorio pose with their grandchildren in front of the marker for the new Public Library during inauguration ritess. The two businessmen were The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library of Saipan opened its doors instrumental in getting the project off the ground. (See more photos on page 5) in grand fashion last Saturday, with top leaders from govern ment, business, and private sectors in attendance, to witness how what took shape as a dream a year ago becomes reality. Kid’s body found flo atin g Dubbed as a “labor of love,” by some observers, the public library showed a vivid example of partnership between both the private and public sector, and how they can work hand-in- near M icro Beach’s shores hand for the good of the community. b y Teri M. F lo r e s Leading those who graced the occasion were Governor Authorities are seeking the assistance of the public in Lorenzo I. DL. Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Benjamin identifying a toddler whose dead body was found by a T: Manglona, as well as department directors, members of the Fish and Wildlife enforcement officer floating near the legislature, and representative from the diplomatic corps. Micro Beach area at about 10:15 a.m. Christmas Day. Referring to it as a Christmas present from the community The boy is described to be around three to five years to the future generation, Guerrero said the library was the of age, weighing from about 30 to 38 pounds and with culmination of the efforts of different groups that pooled brown complexion. He is believed to be of Micronesian together to reach a common goal — and that is to provide a blood. , major learning center in promoting social development Police Chief Tony Reyes said the boy j{/as wearing a “It will be a place where we can save something more white t-shirt with three crocodiles printed on it and a pair precious than money or gold. We will save priceless infor of white pants with a USS Mickey logo. mation. It will be a place where we can store information about Reyes said the boy’s body was found by Fish and our culture and history for the use and education of future Wildlife officer Juan F. Rabuenog and his son floating generations,” said Governor Guerrero in his remarks. three to four feet from the Micro Beach shoreline. The library, named after its major donors, businessmen Jose There were no indications of foul play however, the C. Tenorio (Joeten) and Manuel S. Villagomez (Kiyu), ap Attorney General’s Office said a special autopsy will be parently relied on the tremendous support it received from conducted on this case to determine the cause of the individuals, companies, groups, and agencies. boy’s mysterious death. Tenorio and Villagomez each contributed $800,000 each to Reyes said they have not yet received any reports of a get the ball rolling for the construction of the sprawling missing person and that they do not have any leads as to facility. The public's help is being sought for any infor the boy’s identity. Police are treating the boy’s death as Countless" donors from both the private and government mation that will help police in identifying this a homicide. sectors, including some sports activities which had the library child. Information could be coursed through the Any. information that will lead to the identification of Continued on page 32 following numbers, 911, 234-7272 or any of the the toddler may call 911, the CrimeS toppers at 234-7272 DPS numbers. or any of the Department of Public Safety numbers. RlC fifty 2 -m a r ia n a s v a r iety NEWS AND VIEWS-FRIDAY-DECEMBER 27,1991 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1991-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 A Meeting Place For Our High C ourt reaffirm s judiciary’s hold on ta x records □ D în io n s . And Yours. by Rafael H. Arroyo injunction against the defendants ments and records in prepara formation, it said. „ by agreement of the parties, or FORUM saying that the plaintiffs failed tion for a planned audit. It was therefore maintained as provided for in the Covenant The C N M I government’s po to include the IG as an indis Opting to hear oral argument that any release of information itself, but not by the unilateral sition not to disclose individual pensable party. 1 t did not dis on the very same day that the without such authorization to any action of any one party. taxpayers’ records for an audit miss the complaint in that the governor was supposed to ap person not authorized by local Article I, Section 103 of the by the Inspector General of the plaintiffs could still join the IG pear before the IG , the high tri law, or any US law made appli Covenant provides that the US Interior Department- may after the denial of the applica bunal decided to issue an order, cable in the C N M I through the people of the C N M I will have EDITORIAL have been legally fortified atleast tion for the restraining order. to be followed by an opinion Covenant, would violate the the right of local self-govern forthetimebeingafterthe CNMI The case against the defen setting forth an analysis and rea taxpayer’s right to privacy, the ment, a provision that can not be SupremeCourtcameout with an dants — the CN M I Government, soning. confidentiality of the informa unilaterally amended by either One serious concern that faces resent the garment communities we want in this area: Do we wish order that would further inhibit Governor Lorenzo I. DL. Reversing the trial court’s tion, and the right to self-gov party, the court order said. Let's rethink our goals the Northern Mariana Islands in the mainland see our industries to kill the proverbial golden the executive branch of govern Guerrero, Director of Finance earlier ruling, the court deter ernment. “We interpret the term ‘self- over the next several years will as a serious threat to theirs. It goose that lays the golden eggs? ment from taking custody of all Eloy S. Inos, the Department of mined that the IG is an indis According to the December government’ as used in the Cov be the lack of revenue to meet seems that every which way we Or do we wish to fine tune tax returns. Finance, and the Division of pensable party in the case. 26 order, the Superior Court enant, at a minimum to mean for the new year ahead the constantly expanding local turn there’s a huge hurdle to deal policies at home and build upon In an order penned December Revenue and Taxation — was While it ruled that under’48 should have prohibited the that the people of the C N M I will needs for health care, education, with some of which appear in the strength of the tourism in 26, 1991 by Associate Justices promptly brought up to the Su US Constitution Section 1681 C N M I from disclosing tax re enact the laws of the CN M I; that Four more days and again, most of us will gather together to basic infrastructure, etc.