YNIVERSITY 0~ HAWAII LIB~'( arianas ~riet~~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 ,. ®,Views r·--·-----------------··-·-···-··-·-··· ···-·····-w----·- i 1 Speaker urges caution tail prices 1 ~n residency for aliens Lt. Gov.Jesus R. Sablan' s state­ I ment to reporters that the CNMI I could again grant permanent residency status to non-residents I who have stayed in. the com­ of eldo i monwealth for at least five con­ i secutive years, or who have chil­ By Aldwin R. Fajardo ket are dropping at an average of prices would drag mark-up prices ! dren born here. i Variety News Staff 0.02 to 0.04 cents per gallon. of commodities down, former ! "I was very surprised when I IF IT IS any· consolation to con­ Prices ofunleaded gasoline for Saipan Chamber of Commerce heard about it," Benavente said sumers faced with skyrocketing both Mobil and Shell dropped president Joe C. Ayuyu said the i in an interview. prices of household commodities from $1.809 per gallon in De­ development would translate to "Administration and legisla­ due to the economic crunch, the cember last year to$ I .779 during savings for both individual con­ tors should discuss this first. I government has recorded a de­ the January 5 survey, while super sumers and investors. Diego T. Benavente really feel.that we 're so faraway creasing trend in the retail prices unleaded decreased by 0.04 cents Ayuyu said the dropping retail from suggesting such actions, of fuel in the Northern Marianas. from$ I .909 to$ I .869 per gallon. prices of petroleum products will HOUSE Speaker Diego T. which mightevencreateconfu- A monthly survey of gasoline Retail prices of diesel sold in have a dire.ct positive effect on Benavente (R-Prec. 2, Saipan) sion and problems within the individuals driving theirown cars, stations conducted by the energy Shell gas stations fell from $1.669 · yesterday said any proposal to community." or. companies that provide trans­ division of the Department of to $1.639 per gallon, while it is grant permanent residency sta- The speaker said it is unlikely Public Works disclosed that retail sold at $1.645 in Mobil retail out­ portation to their employees. "It is going to affect us in a tus to qualified aliens should be that local resident would accept prices of oil products in the CNMI lets, according to the survey re­ considered "very carefully," any permanent residency pro- have been slowly decreasing since port from DPW's energy divi­ positive way espeC:ially now when it is more badly needed because adding that it could sow "con- posal. December last year. sion. fusion" in the localcommunity. "All morning I've been re- According to the survey report, Although business analysts of.the worsening economic situa- fuel prices in the local retail mar- doubt that the reduction in fuel Continued on page 23 ...__Th_e_s_p_ea_k_e_r_w_a_s_r_e_ac_t_in_g_t__ o ____ Continued on page_2~ DPL. starts homestead inspections· on Monday By Jojo Dass Variety News Staff GOVERNMENT will start an island-wide inspection of home­ steads occupied by permit holders, Monday as part of efforts to take back lot~ issued to applicants who have failed to build structures on their designated-sites.. · The revoked permits will be issued to new applicants according to the Division of Public Lands (DPL). ' · "We are scheduling inspections for Saipan village homesteads in February," said DPL Homestead Administrator Louise Morisheta. Morisheta said the inspections will cover homestead villages in As Matuis, Dandan, Koblerville and Kagman. "We will be revoking (permits) if_ there are no structures yet," warned Morisheta. Homestead permit holders are being given at least three years to start constructing a house at their lots. Government has implemented a financing plan enabling lower~ income permit holders to acquire loans at low interest to be used for the construction. There are no readily available estimates on the number of home­ Continue·d on page 2·3. Gra.de school students of G.arapan Ele'!'entary School show their 100 Days of Scho.o/ ;·nner yesterday I dunng a march to the Amencan Memonal Park· Ph oI o b y L ouie· c . A lonso Report: Minimum wage ·· Fishermen · Judge in Guam election hike to help beat deficit lost' at sea · fraud case warns counsel By Eric F. Say The cross-examination by By Haidee V. Eugenio offChuuk the Commonweal th' s labor and Guam Variety News Staff plaintiffs' lawyer Curtis Van de Variety News Staff immigration. The move would HAGATNA-The finance chair­ veld, however, drew a critical re­ RAISING the cu1Tent minimum raise the cuITent CNMI mini­ By Jacob Leon Guerrero Variety News Staff man of the '98 Committee to Elect m ark from Judge Joaquin wage for resident and non-resi­ mum wage from ~3.05 to$5.25 Carl· Gutierrez and Madeleine Manibusan. "You can't go on a dent workers in the CNMI per hour. HAGATNA-The government of the Federated States of · Bordallo has said no party money fishing trip trip relating to your would reduce or eliminate the The repo11, submitted to OIA was ever spent to solicit votes previous questioning. There must last week, found out that the Micronesia yesterday sought as­ government deficit, thereby from off-island. be relevancy, Manibusan warned very low income of many sistance of the United States Coast improving the economic situa­ Tony Sgro, who served as trea­ Van de veld. CNMI households contributes Guard Guam in its search for three tion in the islands, according to surer for the Democratic guberna­ Manibusan took notice of Van to the low revenue base for the,' fishermen believed lost at sea. a recent fiscal impact report de veld's questions to Sgro re­ government. In all likelihood, The Coast Guard Rescue Coor­ torial team of Gutierrez and prepared for the Office of Insu­ Bordallo in the Nov. 3 general garding expenses incurred lar Affairs. these workers are more depen­ dination Center was notified yes­ dent on government for ser- · terday about the missing men. An election, answered questions on throughout the gubernatorial race. Such a finding is similar to The lawyer's questioAing con­ vices. Air Force C-130 aircraft from the witness stand on day IO of the what will be contained in the cerned dealings in 1995 prior to The report also indicates that Andersen air Force Base is also trial on the poll fraud case filed by White House-sponsored legis­ former governor Joseph Ada and Sgro assuming the chair of the lation for federal takeover of Continued on page 2·3 aiding in the search. Contmuedonpage 2·3 ex-senator Felix Camacho. Continuea on page22 ~PAC NEWSPAPER STACl<S 1. .. · . THURSDAY.JANUARY 28, 1999- MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-THURSDAY- JANUARY 28, 1999 HEW hearing on NMC today By Zaldy Dandan he said, referring to the issues recommendations in improving cal students enrolled at NMC. Variety News Staff -~­ raised by NMC students who did Saddarn vows revenge ,, the operations and policies of The Educational Assistance THE CHAIR of the House Com­ not receive their education assis­ NMCandthegovernment'sschol­ Program (EAP) grant is provided BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)_ Presi­ INA. INA said Saddam's speech was at Arab leaders, saying they have . I mittee on Health, Education and ~~. tance grant from the government. arship programs. to NMC students who are US dent Saddam Hussein vowed Iraqi officials says 11 people directed to the citizens of Basra. opened their"ears to listen only to 1i; ' Welfare has invited "concerned "I expect to find inconsisten­ The oversight hearing was trig­ citizens, regardless of family in­ Tuesday to retaliate for the dam­ were killed and 59 wounded when In the three-page address, he told the voice of the devil" - mean­ citizens" to aitend today's over­ cies in current policies, identify gered by a demonstration staged come. age and casualties that U.S. war­ missiles hit in and around Basra. the city's nearly one million ing the United States-and closed sight hearing on the Northern problems and find solutions to by 50 NMC students last Friday at The students, moreover, are not planes inflicted on the city of 350 kilometers (230 miles) south people, who were hard hit by the their minds to "the voice ofright." Marianas College and the Schol­ them," Hofschneider said. the Administration Building to required to carry a minimum num­ Basra, the official Iraqi News of Baghdad. 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War and the "Your blood will blossom ... in arship Office, and even submit He earlier noted that the hear­ protest the cash-strapped ber of credits, and can retain their Agency reported. U.S. officials said one missile 1991 Gulf War, that they were the tree of freedom, resistance written or oral testimony. ing will be "timely." government's alleged failure to scholarship by maintaining a "C Saddam urged the Iraqi people fired at Iraqi air defense units that ''his beloved and brothers." and victory," Saddam said. Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider(R­ He said the committee has al­ provide scholarship grants for lo- average. to be patient in the battle against the were threatening American air­ "Be patient, our beloved and Despite the repeated threats, Prec. 3, Saipan) yesterday said ready requested the Office of the United States, saying that eventu­ craft may have gone astr,iy and brothers, victory will be with those Saddam did not spell out what the hearing, which will begin at Public Auditor for an extensive ally victory will be on Iraq's side. killed civilians. But they said the wh9 are patient," said Saddam. action he might take to retaliate 9:30 a.m .