UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LIBRARY Projection for Saipan, Guam: Mayor stops issuance ·0ver 52,000 tourists of fireworks permits By Ferdie de la Torre issue in her Dec. 13 letter to Variety News Staff Sablan in response to an inquiry THE SAIPAN Mayor's Office made by the Mayor's Office as has te1minated last week the is- to whether the latter is still au­ coming for holidays . suance of firework permits pur­ thorized given the changes in suant to a new law that took the law. By Haldee V. Eugenio period is 52,000, or 98.1 percent the previous year's recora of effect last Sept. 21, the Variety According to Kimo M. Variety News Staff of previous year," Katayama 631,000. learned yesterday. Rosario, special advisor for leg­ SAIPAN and Guam are expected pointed out. The decline in Japanese over­ This developed as the Attor­ islative and public relations for to receive an estimated 52,000 At the same time, Katayama seas travels is attributed to a num­ ney General's Office (AGO) the Mayor's Office, Roman Japanese visitors from Dec. 23, said Tasi Tours and Pacific ber of factors, including an unfa­ also informed Saipan Mayor Borja of the Department of Pub­ 1999 to Jan. 3, 2000, as a result of Micronesia Tours will handle an vorable sequences of holiday Jose C. Sablan that under the lic Safety Fire Division informed a lowerprojection foroverallJ apa­ estimated 4,000 travelers in the dates. JTB said some Japanese present law, the Mayor's Office . him that their legal counsel and nese overseas travelers this holi­ said period, or 141.6 percent of will be working over the year-end is no longer authorized to issue the AGO advised them that the day season compared to last year. the previous year's figure. or during the New Year in con­ permits for fireworks. offices of the mayor of each Ikuo Katayama, president of The increase will come from nection with the Y2K computer Assistant Attorney General island in the CNMI are no longer Tasi Tours & Transportation, Inc., additional flights off Kansai, Ja­ problem, thereby lowering down Sheila N. Bowman clarified the Continued on page 26 yesterday disclosed that while pan on board All Nippon Airways the number of overseas travels. Saipan and Guam's prime market and chartered by JTB World Va­ Moreover, JTB said Japanese will still fuel arrival growth dur­ cation Western Japan. travels to the U.S. and Europe, in Fttll moon bigger, brighter in isles ing the 12-day period, the esti­ Meanwhile, Japan Travel Bu­ particular, will see a reduction mated number of Japanese visi­ reau (JTB) revealed in its "Travel due to the crowded hotels and By Eric F. Say This is due to the winter sol­ tors is just 98.1 percent of the Trends for Year-End/New Year more expensive prices associated Variety News Staff stice, which mean.s thatthe North­ previous year's actual figures. Travel" study that the estimated with the Millennium celebrations. HAGATNA- The full moon be- ern Hemisphere is tilted farthest "Our market is not so bad, but number of overseas travels from JTB said Japanese make a delib­ ing observed over the Marianas from the sun. We in the Marianas estimated number of travelers to Japan from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 is erate decision to avoid traveling this holiday season is one that has will have the shortest day of sun­ Saipan and Guam in the same 559,000 which is 88.6 percent of Continued on page 26 special meaning. light this entire year. For the next week, and for the But what makes this year's sol­ first time in 133 years, the earth's stice so different from others is only orbiting body will appear the fact that a full moon occurs Suit filed over Kagman school project bigger and brighter and hunters of during this week and Earth is in By Ferdie de la Torre payment under the terms of their struction contract with subcon­ crabs and fishes are only happy an apogee- the moon is at its Variety News Staff contract. tractor Guam Concrete last April for it. Continued on page 26 A PRNA TE firm has sued a PAC, through counsel Eric S. 8. ==:=· - subcontractor for alleged breach Smith, also sought court's order Smith said a controversy has r....... =~~, of contract in connection with compelling Guam Concrete to arisen between PAC and Guam t. DPH, legislators seek to·!! the building ofKagman Elemen­ reimburse the firm for its pay­ Concrete relative to their legal tary School project. ments made. rights and duties under the con­ r: i' PAC United Corp. Ltd. asked According to the complaint, tract. reform referral program :.: . the Superior Court to rule that PAC, which has a contract with Guam Co11crete claimed that it By Haidee V. Eugenio disclosed that while DPH has defendant Guam Concrete the Public School System for the has competently performed its Variety News Staff started observing certain re- Builders is not entitled to any Kagman project, entered into con- Continued on page 26 CNMIMEDICALreferral poli- forms, these were,not neces- cies will take on more stringent sarily incorporated into the reforms--including a set trans- medical referral policy. Addi- portation fee for ·medical es- tional changes are also being corts and the indemnification proposed. of off-island specialists--as the The DPH chief said the Medi- Department of Public Health cal Referral Office (MRO) is (DPH) and the House and Sen- looking at a set off-island trans- ate Committees on Health, Edu- portation fee for doctors, rn:•··;es cation and Welfare (HEW) un- orother medical escorts iw:, · ,d dertakes a review of existing of the ''per diem" rule under::,,: regulations. standard government travel !! Health Secretary Joseph authorizations (TAs). [i Kevin Villagomez yesterday Continued on page 26 [I ...7-·-·_c,,:=c.··--.. - :..::::.'....c=::c=.:.. :·--·-=-..---==::.--:: .."::'.:::~c:..-:.: .. c..·.: ==, .- ::_:_·=:-:·----"-~· . _- .. :: Speaker: Let's make decisions based on what's best for NMI By Jojo Dass M. Mendiola(R-Rota) and Tinian : I WORLD/NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1999-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-WEDNESDAY- DECEMBER 22, 1999 In Venezuela News ·sriefs Legislators no show at session Most Americans unfazed By Jojo Dass calendar. Saipan), and other Republican Olopai (D-Saipan), and Malua T. since late last month. Jones was 10,000 Variety News Staff At·least dead "I have to postpone the session by threat of terrorism Reps. Melvin 0. Faisao, Heinz S. Peter (Ind.-Saipan). present on I y I as t week after ( NOT EVEN an invitation for a again," said Benavente, in an in­ Hofschneider, Herman T. Apatang was absent due to Benavente warned he will call in WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most Americans are not too worried r House Christmas party made te1view. Palacios, Karl T. Reyes and "medical reasons," Sgt.-at-arms Towai, or the police if needed. about the threat of a NewYear's Eve terrorist attack, despite govern­ some IO lawmakers attend a "I wil I. .. compel members once Bernadita T. Seman. Peter O. Towai 's attendance sheet "I hope that some of them Oaw­ ment warnings to be vigilant about possible security threats, an ABC scheduled session yesterday, com­ again to come to the session. There Absent were Reps. David M. showed, while Cepeda, accord­ makers) will have been cured from all News poll found on Monday. ,, pe II ing Speaker Diego T. are still very important legisla­ Apatang (R-Saipan), Oscar M. ing to the same record, had "an of their sicknesses because several Seventy-three percent of the l .0 l OAmencans polled by ABC Dec. Benavente (R-Sai pan) to yet again tion (that are pending). The bud­ Babauta (R-Saipan), Frank G. appointment all morning." members have continued to be ill l 5- I 9said they were not woITied- including 47 percent, who said "not issue a stern warning that he will get is sitting on the calendar at Cepeda (R-Saipan), Alejo M. Tenorio was on an "unofficial since a few weeks ago and I hope that at all" ABC News said. have to call in the sergeant-al­ this time that needs to be consid­ Mendiola (R-Rota), Manuel A. trip"; Jones was on Tinian; they (get better.)," said Benavente. A to.ta! of 26 percent said they were worried about a r:najor terrorist arms, even the police, to compel ered," he added. Tenorio (R-Saipan), and House Camacho said he was "coming late; The speaker announced at the incident in the United States. with eight percent saymg they were ,., them to be present in the follow­ "I will use my authority to compel Minority Leader Dino M. Jones Peter was in a "rosary" and was floor last week that the Lower worried "a great deal". · ing one next week. the members to come to the session." (D-Saipan). also supposedly "coming late"; Chamber will be a holding a lunch "Neither government warnings nor the arrest of an Algerian charged It was the fourth session where Present were Vice Speaker Also absent were Reps. Rosiky Hocog and Olopai were "sick." Christmas party during a session with bringing bomb-making materials into the United States seems to quorum was not reached even as Jesus T. Attao (R-Saipan), Floor F. Camacho (D-Tinian), Jesus A. Olopai, Hocog and Mendiola break, apparently to ensure. that have influenced these views," the pollsters wrote. the FY 2000 budget bill is on the Leader Ana S. Teregeyo (R- Hocog (D-Tinian), Maximo L. have not been coming to sessions the House gets a quorum.