Arianas %Riety;~ · Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 '&1 ~ Zachares: More Raids Coming up "Absolutely, Absolutely
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' .UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LIBRARi: arianas %riety;~ · Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 '&1 ~ Zachares: More raids coming up "Absolutely, absolutely. There will probably be one very soon," •· Zachares said in an interview last Thursday. The "unannounced inspections" will be done on garment facto ries, construction firms, karaoke bars and nonresident workers' 1iv ing quarters, among others. These, officials said, are known ''hotspots" where numerous vio lations have been noted by inves tigators, including those on wages and the workers' occupational Mark Zachares safety. The Department of Labor and By Jojo Dass Immigration started conducting Variety News Staff "unannounced inspections" at the GOVERNMENT is poise to con height of the federal government's duct more raids this week on vari pressure on the CNMI early this Members of the First CNMI Youth Congress Luis Cepeda (right, foreground), Angel Demapan (center) and ous establishments and suspected year. Roman Palacios take their oaths during inauguration ceremonies in Capitol Hill Saturday. A total of 21 Youth lairs of overstaying nonresident Since then, close to 20 different Senators were sworn in. Photo by Tony Celis workers, Labor and Immigration establishments, including at least Secretary Mark Zachares told the nine garment factories, have been Variety. Continued on page 23 ---------- -------------·--1 Feds look into allegations of I Gov't holds up $4M maltreatment at DOLi centerJ Checks f Or Vendors By Jojo Dass of human rights violations are I Variety News Staff not within his office's jurisdic- By Haidee V. Eugenio tion projects, and suppliers of THE FEDERAL government is tion. Variety News Staff hospital and education m·aterials. looking into allegations of mal- He nevertheless assured the THE ADMINISTRATION is Reyes, however, pointed out treatment supposedly aired by federal government "will look holding back over $4 million that the figure changes everyday. nonresident workers being held into this." 1 worth of payments for "vendors" For example, last week's more atthe CNMI immigration deten- The US labor department's or private firms that expect pay than $4 million may now be close tion center, it was gathered Fri- CNMiofficegotholdofahand- ments for services rendered to the to $5 million, he said. day. written letter spirited out of the gov·emment until funds become The legislator hopes that all the Terence J. Trotter, enforce- Commonwealth immigration available, a CNMI legislator deal checks for vendors will be re- ment director of the US labor center in As Lito late last week. ing with government finances leased by mid-November since department's wage and hour di- The letter, written by one of said. :;:"J the business gross receipt taxes vision, in an interview. said he the detainees, spoke of alleged ,~, Rep. Karl T. Reyes, chair of the ' ,· for the months of July, August will refer the detainees' com- "harsh conditions" some non- <·'!: .. House ways and means commit and September arc due at the end plaints to the US Attorney's Of- resident workers are being sub- .',4.'J''"' tee, said that as of last week, the •;'1ij, of October. fice, the local field representa- jected to at the detention center. government has more than $4 'Tm hopeful that the collection tive of the US justice depart- These include "overcrowd- Karl T. Reyes for the entire month of October ment, for proper action. ing"--wherein a cell which can million worth of checks that is The grievances, he said, may normally accommodate only 22 temporarily being withheld to available for actual cash. If they will address the actual amount of be forwarded to USAO's civil people, has more than 40. cushion a further deficit in the issue the checks now, it will cre money to pay for the vendors. government's coffers. ate an ove!Tun or a deficit. The "I know everybody is holding rights division "to see whether Another complaint was that "The government is banking out government has not enough back their payment, even myself, or not the complaint has merit." detainees were allegedly being checks to pay the vendors but money for now," Reyes said in an until the deadline on Oct. 3 I st. , I Trotter explained allegations Continued on page 23 I holding them back until funds are interview. The government should collect . _........ _.- ....~.- ... ~ ,~ ..:.;·.,.·::-·:.\: ·:.'.:.._ ... 4. -----·-: The bulk of these payments go the most on October," said Reyes. to vendors involved in construe- Continued on page ~3 (i 'GutieITez to urge airlines Banks expected to cut rates to increase seat capacities \:1 further after 2nd Fed move Variety News Staff sis Response Group to launch Variety News Staff HAGATNA-Gov.Carl T. C. a "major initiative aimed to · \ HAGATNA -The Federal Reserve's move to cut its federal funds Gutierrez is set to meet with make the Guam airport more ' ' rate by another one-quarter of a percentage point last Friday is airline industry officials and attractive to airlines servicing , , expected to benefit Guam in a number of ways. airport management today to Guam." 1' On theheels of the Fed rate cut, big stateside banks have lowered discuss measures on how to In a press statement, · · the prime rate from 8.25 percent to 8.00 percent. For individual stem the reduction of airline Guzn1an hinted at an an- ~~ consumers and businesses, this is very good news since many loans scat capacities resulting from nouncement to the effect that ,[ such as home equities and credit cards are directly linked to the prime the Asian economic crisis. the facilities at the Guam In- r rate. Clifford Guzman, an assis ternational Airport will be Investors are also happy. The Dow Jones industrial average ' tant to Gutie1Tez, said the gov come more "affordable" for jumped a further 117.40 points Friday after a 330.58-point gain ernor has ordered the Multi airlines. Thursday, and is nearly 12 percent higher than the low of 7,539.07 Agency Asian Economic Cri~ Carl T. C. Gutierrez Continued on page 23 reached Aug. 3 I. Continued on page 20 PAC NEWSPAPER STACKS ---~---------------------------_:_".M.'..'.:O:'..:N~D~A:-_'ti_.','-':'OCTOBER 19, 1998 -MARIANAS VARIETY .J':1§~~-!':f'J!)~l-~v\l~} Clinton takes on role Youth Congress convenes By Haidee V. Eugenio Officials su-cssed Lliat despite the :md Samm-ia. Variety News Staff proud that I'm able lo make a relaxed smrnundings of Llie rnstic Use of the biblical names for the difference," said Tercgcyo dur IN WHAT was touted as a his estate mere wa, deadly se,ious dis :m~a. core of tlie dispute between the ing the reception Lhal followed toric political event, the first ever cussion, wim all sides feming tllat a sides, infu1iates Palestinim1s who see after the Youth Congress' first breakdown of tllis U.S.-brokered ef it ,t, implying Israeli claim over tl1e CNMI Youth Congress held their session. first session on S~llurday at the frnt cou Id bury the peace process Lenito1y. Tcregeyo .iJdcd that the Youth ll1e source also said Arafat f1-c House Chamber which was completely. Congress showed the :1ctive par Palestinian sources said the u·mi qucntly appem-ed cxa,pemted with jampacked with visibly proud ticipation of young women in qu iI autumn setting had done little to the proceedings, especially with government officials, parents. politics. calm tile passion with which tl1e two Nernnyahu personally. guests and spectators. Or the 21 youth scn,1Lors. I:, arc sides m·gue tl1eir ca,es. One senior U.S. official stressed Highlighting the festive orga women. while the remaining eight One ~fficial inside me closely. the Israelis, too, were underpressure. niz:nional session was the in;u arc men. They arc all alloll'CU lo guarded estate said Arafat's chief He said a May 4, l 999, deadline for guration of the 21 youth senators pass resolutions 011 issues affect negotiator, Saeb Erekat, engaged in a overall peace Lalk;; may be weighing by ChiefJ ustice W.K. Taylor, and fu1ious exchange at one point with on Netanyahu, who may fe.u· a vio ing the'. youth. the election or officers and chair Th" r1Cst Df \hi.'. m'.w\y-·11,,r,1~u NeL'Ulyahu when the Israeli leader lent Palcstinirn1 backlash if there is no persons or various standing com refened to tl1e West B,mk ,l, Judea progi-css. ralcu youlh Sl.'.na\ors WI.'.•. ..:: ED mittees. man T. Pal:1cim of Precinct I: Alexis Kosack of the Northern Jesse Limes E/amcto of Prcci11c1 Japan, Russia prepare Marianas College (NMCJ was fl/: Ernest R:mgamar of Precinct elected speaker. She later on pre Ill: Erika Mafnas of Precinct IV: sided the session. Joining her at Sierra Lei Cody of the Marianas for Japanese PM visit the podium were House Speaker Baptist Academy; Lou Anne Diego T. Benavente. Senate Pres. Pangelinan of the Grace Chris President Clinton delivers the openin9 message for the Mideast. peace talks .as Israel! Prime Min!ster MOSCOW(AP)-Jap,m'sfrneign progress Paul Manglona. Chic!' Justice llie fo11:ign ministers ag1-eed on a ti:m Academy: Joaquina Salas of Benjamin Netanyahu (left) a0d Palestrman leader Yasser Arafat, assisted by an. untdentrfred interpreter (nght) minister has finalized plaiis for next Taylor, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio look on during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the Whrte House in Washington Thursday. AP montli's visit by Japan's prime min date for a summit between Russian Ml-IS: Gregory C. Cing of the and Bishop Thomas Camacho. ister to me Russian capital, me latest President YeltsinandJapaneseP,ime Newly-elected Youth Congress senators pose for a press photo after their organizational session last Tinian High School; and By Carol Giacomo copter from me White House Lo me subst,mce of the talks as the U.S.