r~~:":t::s::'i ~F f-tAWA,flla.RARY ·--.- -.... _..... arianas %riety;;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 · · ~ fVVS Torres m.ay start work Takeover bill .up with Fund on Monday By Haidee V.- Eugenio Variety News Staff JUAN S. Torres may assume · for Senate vote his new post as NMI Retirement · Fund ·administrator as early as WASHING TON, D.C. - Leg­ "This is a bipartisan bill, and MondayaftertheBoardofTrust­ islation offered by U.S. Sens. we have the suppmtofthe Clinton ees officially received his edu­ Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Administration. The \neasure in­ cation credentials last night. Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK) to cludes provisions recommended Torres submitted a certifica­ apply U.S. immigration Jaw in the by the INS," Akaka said in a press tion of graduation and transcript CNMI has cleared the Senate release. of re·cords way ahead of the 10- Committee on Energy and Natu­ "It responds to the profound working day ultimatum earlier ral Resources and may be up for a problems we witnessed while vis­ given by the Board. Juan S. Torres vote in the Senate soon. iting the CNMI and which have During the three-hour Board The bipartisan measure (S. 1052) persisted for fifteen years. It is meeting, chai~man Vicente gin working officially with the responds to "continuing immigra­ time for Congress to act." Camacho instructed the acting Fund on Monday. tion abuses" in the CNMI. "America is one country and administrator to inform Torres "It's a big relief for us that we It grants a nine-year transition we must have a single, uniform Daniel K. Akaka of the Board's decision. received his credentials before period for full application of the immigration syste!11," Akaka "If he is available by Mon­ the IO-day (period) because it is U.S. Immigration and National­ workers employed long-term (five noted. "WhentheCo'mmonwealth. day, then he can report to work his last chance ... Probably he ity Act to the CNMI to lessen any years). The bill also authorizes a became a territory of the United that day," Camacho said. can s.tart working this coming economic disruption to the Com­ technical assistance program for States, we allowed them to write Fund Board Trustee Marian Monday," said Tudela who was monwealth. training and recruitment meant to their. oy,,n i!l}~_igrc\tiori laws. Af­ .. DLG. Tudela said there is a big . one of the four Board members It also contains a one-time promote CNMI economic diver­ ter twenty years of experience, possibility that Torres will be- Continued on page 59 grandfather provision for guest sification. Continued on page 59 . US Senate is sendingNMI a message-­ Underwood By Jay Pascua. Variety News Staff CONGRESSMAN Robert Underwood said a U.S. Senate committee is sending a strong message to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by its endorsement of legislation that would extend U.S. immigra­ tion laws to the CNMI. I The bill, S. 1052, authored by l U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Akaka (D­ l Hawaii) and FrankH. Murkowski :, (R-AK) has cleared the Senate :) Committee on Energy and Natu­ ral Resources and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. To lessen the blow to the CNMI's economy, the bill allows Officials are all smiles after attending the Marianas Visitors Authority's general membership meeting yesterday at the Dai-I chi Hotel. They are (from for a nine-year transition period left) Washington Representative Juan N. Babauta, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, Rep. Bennet T. Seman, a legislative official and House Speaker Diego for the Immigration Act to take T. Benavente. Photo by Haldee V. Eugenio affect. 1::·~==~===-CJC=<-r..0--7=·--,;.=~··-····""- - -.. ·c..- ~·,-r~ ·- ·.·c.~~--:,...--:::==== ==.........::==:'- == --r;i .a.== .. There is also a grandfather pro­ vision for contract workers em­ IMore value for tourists' dollars is sought ! ployed long-term, or a period of five years. A provision is in­ l! By Haidee V. Eugenio ber of the Japan Marianas Tour- and increase quality. Otherwise, "Tourism is service indus- !J 1 cluded that authorizes a tecbnical i•j Variety News Staff ism Club, pointed out the diffi- consumer will pass our destina- try. It begins with hospitality assistance program for training IF SAIP AN wants to become a culty of enticing more Japanese tion. and ends with hospitality ... and recruitment and to promote J more competitive tourist desti- tourists to come to the CNMI "Japanese consumers are so Saipan must become unique CNMI economic diversification. nation, then it should offer more where air fare and room rates - price-conscious and naturally ex- island for hospitality," ne said. Underwood saio the Senate quality services and· should among others - are not always pect a good buy," said Onizawa, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, in a committee, which Murkowski lower down prices, a top J apa- lower than in other destinations. who has been in the tourism busi- statement, said the partnership chairs, did not appear to be im­ nese tourism official told travel The lack of direct flights avail- ness for nearly 30 years. of MV A and the private sector pressed by the CNMI efforts to industry officials during abletotheCNMI,headded,com- Thekeynotespeakeralsomade must continue in order to de- address immigration and labor yesterday's general member- pounds the problem of marketing a strong pitch on the need to in- velop the CNMI as a world- problems and reported the bill ship meeting of the Marianas the islands. crease CNMI hospitality, begin- class destination. out. Visitors Authority (MVA). "We are facing very difficult ning at the immigration and cus- The chief executive men- "They had given them a two­ In his keynote address, situation. However, it is time that toms counters at the points of tioned hotel accommodations, year time line to demonstrate Yoshinobu Onizawa, a mem- we should hold down the price entry. Continued on page 59 Continued on page 59 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1999-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-FRIDAY- OCTOBER 22 1999 .-----------.........:.-======================: Veterans say AAFES ••••••••••••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••• Dole quits privilege should stay : JVC DVDNCDICD Player • : JVC HiFi Component • By Haidee V. Eugenio this," he said, adding that violators • Dolby Digital $S9 OO • • • VCD/CD Karaoke/ Dolb logic • Karaoke with 2 mlc Inputs 9 • • • 110/220 Volts 'l • Variety News StMf will be issued citations and will • 1101220 volts • • • Made In Japan ·; • • Made lr'JS,C e • • Free center & 2 : . • A GROUP of retired military per­ have to face charges. • .aMu11m • • surround speakers i • sonnel in the CNMI yesterday ex­ The government wants both the • • : t ~ : GOPrace pressed fears their privileges are Guam and CNMI military supply • ,~/\'.,;19p,w:,'\'~' ·,: .. ', __ :_·: • • • • $729.00 ~. threatened by the government's offices to "rectify" the problem . • • . ~. proposal to put a limitation on mili­ Salas and officials of the Guam • ~" • • • tary beer supply com mg in due to supply office are set to discuss the • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••• illegal re-sale .. matter today. • • • The U.S. Armed Forces Veter­ Reyes, moreover, recommended • SONY 4 Heads VCR • $3 • ans Association said it is more than the legal system to take its course in • • • willing to help curb the illegal re­ prosecuting violators, and called • • • • • • selling of military beers but the on violators to clean their acts now . • • • government should not zero in on "My notice to all recipients of • • • reducing benefits they are entitled post-exchange privileges is is that • NOW : • to receive. there are federal statutes that there • Reg.399 • There are currently more than 50 are consequences in re-selling • $249.00 : • members of such veterans group. them," said Reyes. • • Auto Volt • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Visiting Insular Affairs Director Danny Aranza (left) confers with Washington Representative Juan N "What the government should Some 300 to I ,r:J.JJ military privi­ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••• Babauta (middle) and House Speaker Diego T. Benavente after a press conference at the Hyatt yesterda/ do is rectify the problem; go after lege of buying prcx:lucts at the Army • • • Photo by Jojo Dass the violators but do not threaten to AirForceExchangeSeivice(AAFES) • : Mega Joy : • • · • 800015000 • reduce privileges we are entitled to Troop Store ata lower price, provided • • • receive. they are for their own consumption, • • Games in 1 • • • • "Go after the people who are re­ and not to be re-sold . • • • • Bob Dole waves as his wife Elizabeth Dole meets reporters in Wash­ No Compact impact selling them, and not us . Beers DOC earlier said the illegal re­ : Reg. • • • ington Wednesday to announce that she is dropping out of the Repub­ i1,' are one of the hottest iterns in the sale ofuntaxed military beers in the • lican presidential race. AP ., • NOW : Sale : market," Joseph Reyes, USAFV A CNMI has become a majorconcern • ·' president, told the Variety . : $849 • : JVC Wireless Microphone : WASHINGTON (AP) _, Eliza­ tion, Dole frustrated some support­ nowadays among private busi­ • : $29.9 : money for the NMI Andrew Salas, director of the nesses as well as the government beth Dole abandoned her bid to be ers by putting off - then toning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••• Department of Commerce's Alco­ due to lost tax revenues. America's first woman president, down - big policy addresses and versification, vocational training "I think there are clearly identi­ hol, Beverage and Tobacco Con­ Some four to eight 40-feet con­ • San Antonio Branch giving up Wednesday in the shadow neglecting to take advantage of her By Jojo Dass We accept: Variety News Staff that will assist locals in getting fied needs and that they are re­ trol, pointed out that the govern­ tainersofmilitarybeersare brought 234-3512 of Republican front-runnerGeorge Iowa straw-poll finish. THERE is no "specific" money mainstream jobs, and more air­ lated to economic development.