Faisao Lashes at 'Discridlination'
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!)NIVEJs.Sl"T'(Of: HAWl\_'!_LIBRAA'. ·----- arianas %riet.Yr;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 C&J ews -Gov't urged to budget Faisao lashes at $8M for tourism. CIPs will be requesting the central government to shoulder the cost of these projects aimed at en 'discriDlination' hancing tourist spots in the CNMI. By Jojo Dass supposed to consider during the MVA's move came after it Variety News Staff 90-day period. was given $5.8 million budget LEGISLATORS yesterday de Faisao also made a proposal to for FY 2000, which officials ferred approval of proposed street have the names split in half - strongly believe will be insuffi names for Saipan following a Chamorro and Carolinian - and cient to carry out its operations, lengthy and tense debate that saw dispersed proportionately. particularly in prioritizing the Rep. Melvin 0. Faisaocrying foul "I feel like it was never taken development of tourist sites in over what he claimed was dis up. We are being discriminated Saipan, Rota and Tinian. crimination against Carolinians against as an ethic group," Faisao MVA managing director Perry in the process of determining said, in an interview during a ses Tenorio said the agency has names for the island's Perry Tenorio sion break. wrote a letter to Rep. Oscar M. throughfares. He added that the proposal to Babauta, chairman of the House Faisao was disappointed at the amend the law will only further By Haldee V. Eugenio Committee on Commerce and apparent lack of Refaluwasch drag the project. "The damage Variety News Staff Melvin 0. Faisao Tourism requesting him to make names on the list. THE MARIANAS Visitors has been done anyway," Faisao available over $8 million worth As a result, the Saipan and Office into the special body. Authority (MVA) has submit said. of funding for MVA projects Northern Islands Legislative Del But what really angered Faisao Ray Diaz, Saipan Mayor Jose ted a "wish list" to the Legisla- including the establishment of egation moved to file a measure was the alleged inaction of the C. Sablan's representative to the . ture for possible inclusion of par1'..ing Jots, walk ways, toilet that will amend the street naming commission on his proposed • over $8 million worth of tour commission who was present at facilities, and the beautification Jaw to extend the 90-day period Carolinian list, which was sub the session, maintained the com ism-relatedcapital improvement of tourist sites. given to the project's commis mitted late last year when the street mission gave Faisao "ample time" projects (CIPs) in the "We don't have resources now sion to allow for further review of naming bill became Local Law to submit his proposed list. government's fiscal year 2000 and the next fiscal year to make the list, and to include representa 11-3. The list came as an amend In a separate interview, he also appropriations, it was learned. tives from the Carolinian Affairs ment that the special body was Continued on page 45 This is the first time MV A Continued on page 45 I • J Airport _tow~r i to be pnvat1zed j by October '99 By Haidee V. Eugenio Variety News Staff THE SAIPAN International Airport's control tower is set to . be privatized beginning Octo- , ber this year but local officials assured none of the nine certi fied local air traffic controllers will be out of their jobs. Officials of both the Federal : Aviation Administration : (FAA) and SERCO Manage : ment Services, Inc. met on • WednesdaywithGov.PedroP. • Tenorio and officials of the Commonwealth Ports Author ity to finalize plans of privatiz- . ing the tower, which is one of the few in the Pacific that re mains under government con trol and operations. SERCO is the private firm which has a contract with FAA . for the operation of most air Acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Miguel Demapan (right) and Superior Court Judge Edward Manibusan (middle) listen closely to Fr. Isaac traffic control towers in the Pa Ayuyu during the blessing of the Judicial Complex yesterday. Photo by Marla c. Alonso , cific region . t• '".r-;~:;-_;-;-;-•.•r.,.",::r:,;.":!tr.;".':':~.t::::r~·~~::-.~.ti,:'".~'i':·:~..::.-:•.'.l.f<E:.~:".'".?.~~.!:~_..,~:.":',.,."~":'' ... ;-~:..,;:i!"'t~'Y.~.;;.::.rc. r:r:J.1':':::.::::."-::m::!:!l.-.:.~"~,n·~r.::..:-:i.?r::""':."X".V..·.:.~~.-:..-::~,. ·.::.:;c..~:.'.:.::·"',.~.c::·::.;":..1:~-::.":•·:::.•.•-~·:·;:::;:,·.Y~;:.7·t.::.•:.. ··:.•.-., 1 ···;•;·•. ··: ,_. :.:,~·:~··:. ·.:\·-'":.:·:·: •·:.••• ;/.~;: :~ ::.::. '.:··: ,, . ·.7: ..: • •.: .. ·.,.: .. ' ,, : •. ~·:' '.: CPA executive director Carlos H. Salas said in an inter- , [NMHC sues to eject 12 tenants from. housing: view that the privatization of , the control tower will save the By Ferdie de la Torre NMHC asked the Superior agency or face ejection. ing, those determined as ineli- · ports authority about $600,000 ' Variety News Staff Court to terminate the respective The housing corporation has gible families have to move out yearly. THE NORTHERN Marianas lease agreement between the been proceeding with the imple- from the housing program. "The FAA has an approved • Housing Corporation yesterday agency and the tenants currently mentation of a federal law ex- Named as defendants in seven funding to have it financed and filed separate lawsuits seeking occupying housing units in the eluding citizens of FSM and Re- separate complaints were Rufino have the contractor take over ejection of 12 tenants, including CNMI. public of Palau from federally- M. Mendiola and Benselin J. the tower . One thing we citizens from the Federated NMHC, throughcounselDarrin subsidized housing in the CNMI. Mendiola, Gloria Soram, West know, nobody will be out of a StatesofMicronesia,mainlyfor Class, sought court's order di- NMHC Corporate Director R. Sikebert and Angelina T. job," said Salas, adding that the ~ allegedly failing to pay housing rectingdefendants toquitandsur- Marylou Ada in an earlier inter- Sikebert, Hernest Simiron and . cost of takeover is still under . rentals. render their housing units to the view said pursuant to the 214 rul- Continued on page 45 Continued on page 45 ··· . .:•.:.;.-·. ..:.:::.:i-.~;~:.- ......: . .1.:i.:.:~ • .:.::.·:·· .• ~ .. ·.··-" .' · ..•. "'." ......... '·.',',.'/. ··.'.• ._.,_. ····"'~'... '"L..····-... ·..:...- ~· ....·.• ... ;~·-···· ..·";, ...·:.:.. .. · .. : • : :.:.~ •• : •.•.• , :,. J. __ -····-. --~ ...·.:. ", PAC NEWSPAPER STACKS .. FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1999-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-FRIDAY- JULY 2, 1999 21 people dead in France Cable car falls to ground GRENOBLE, France (AP) gional authorities. were being carried to work at cable car in question was built disaster to hit the French Alps, By Aldwin R. Fajardo -A cable car crashed to the None of the 21 people the 8,887-foot lookout station. in the 1980s and had just where massive avalanches arrivals in to the Northern amount went to promotional on Saipan last year. ground early today at a resort riding the cable car survived No- tourists were apparently passed a safety inspection. killed 12 people and swept Variety News Staff Marianas. works in Japan alone. Also, Continental Micronesia town in the French Alps, kill the crash, which occurred at on board. At the Hautes-Alpes tourist away 23 chalets Feb. 9 near WHEN talking of establish "Continental Micronesia is the Continental is a major player in spent over a million dollars in free ing all 21 people aboard, offi about 7:30 a.m., officials at The accident occurred due office in Paris, officials said the ski resort of Chamonix. ing a regional airline, govern hometown carrierforthe Marianas Saipan 's half-a-billion dollar tour transportation for the National cials said. the regional prefecture con to a severed cable, sending the there was no public access to The next month, a fire that ment officials have to consider and the whole of Micronesia. It is ism industry, with a previously Tourism Offices (NTOs), includ The cable car fell about 260 firmed. car into a free fall, the offi the cable car in Saint-Etienne broke out on a truck in the several factors and these their regional airline with global owned hotel to its credit. The com ing the Commonwealth's feet to the ground in Saint- Philippe Maire, a spokes cials said. Further details were en Devoluy and that it was Mont Blanc tunnel killed 45 should include the volume of connection," said. Walter Dias, pany also employs 130 workers Marianas Visitors Authority investments poured in by a Etienne en Devoluy, a ski man for the regional prefect, not immediately available. used primarily by astronomers people and raised serious company vice president for sales on Saipan, and a total of 1,650 (MV A), as well as the Associa particular carrier in the areas resort south of Grenoble in told France-Info radio that A member of the cable car working at the observatory. questions about the safety of and promotions, in light of dis employees around the region. tion of Pacific Island Legislatures it serve, according to industry the Hautes-Alpes region of the most of the victims were em union, Jean-Charles Simeon, The accident was the latest truck transport in the region. cussions between CNMI and Dias said the airline company (APIL). French Alps, according to re- ployees of an observatory and told LCI television that the executives. Palau government officials and pays employees around $60 mil On issues surrounding safe and In an apparent attempt to Nauru Airlines executives on the lion in annual salary and spends reliable service, Continental reiterate its position as the possibility of the carrier provid about $130 million in supplies. Micronesia had completed last Puerto Rico wants US region's flag carrier, officials ing Saipan-Palau-Manila "It is important because it year about 99.6 percent of its of Continental Micronesia flights. floats in the economy," he scheduled flights. Dias said 88 have disclosed that the com said, adding that Continental percent of the companf s flights Dias noted that Continental Walter Dias Navy out of island pany is looking at bringing has been a pioneer player in the built the $800,000-cargo facility in 1998 arrived in 14 minutes.