UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LIBRARY ananas ^Variety^ Micronesia’s Leading Newspaper Since 1972 vO(j ® U S Labor w on’t seek pay h ike By Rafael H. Arroyo “This is good news to the Com­ CNMI government could take Legislature to consider legisla­ Saipan’s garment factories. monwealth. The governor and his care of matters in the Common­ tion raising Commonwealth The oversight hearing was THE UNITED States Department teammet early yesterday morning wealth. minimum wage “if only to s|\ow called by the Subcommittee on of Labor will notrecommend an (Saipan time) in Washington and “Labor’s testimony before the that we can handle things here.” Insular and International Affairs increase in CNMI minimum wage were provided a copy of the committee indicated they woufcd Itmay be recalled that it was the upon the prodding of 34 US during the US House oversight department’s written statement to remain silent on whether the US Labor department’s lawsuit members who felt a deeper in­ hearing today. be presented at the hearing. The C N M I should effect a minimum against Saipan garment manu­ vestigation of CNMI labor and This was the statement issued statement said US Labor would wage hike because ‘they felt this . facturer Willie Tan that triggered economic policies was in order. by Public Information Officer not be recommending to Congress government knows what is wise congressional interest over labor, To be discussed during today’s John Joyner from Washington, that we raise minimum wage for their people.’ They also be­ immigration, minimum wage and hearing are the following: whether D.C.' where the governor and here,” acting PIO Pamela Mathis lieve it was perfectly alright for tax policies gf the Common­ the CNMI should continue en­ other officials of the CNMI were said yesterday. CNMI firms to be using ‘Made in wealth. joying control over its minimum set to appear before the US House Mathis said he spoke with USA’ labels on their products,” That lawsuit was sensational­ wage and immigration laws, and Committee cm Interior and Insu­ Joyner over the phone early yes­ Mathis quoted Joyner as saying. ized by the US media with reports whether the benefits of a tax rebate lar Affairs Thursday (Friday, terday morning and was told that Governor Lorenzo I. DL. of “slave labor” conditions for system and duty-free entry of its Saipan time). the department believed that the Guerrero has been asking the alien contract workers existing in exports to the US should remain. C U C bares fin an cial condition By Nick Legaspi briefing early this week by Renato million for water and $18 million Alcazar, acting comptroller, and for the expansion of the Saipan THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD Com­ Velma Palacios, deputy executive power system. monwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) director. The briefing was arranged The third loan ($18 million) was is currently straining from a finan­ by CUC Executive DirectorRamon to be used for Phase I of the power cial burden because of a disruption S. Guerrero to present an objective plant expansion project in Saipan. in the flow of long-term capital view of the CUC’s financial con­ The total amount of the project funds and the subsidized operation dition. awarded to Mitsubishi was $19.5 of the water and sewer systems in Loan history million. the C N M I. Data provided by the CUC offi­ CUC, however, actuallyreceived In addition, the CUC is treated cials showed that when Guerrero only $5.5 million out of the com­ like a private enterprise when it assumed his position in 1990 the mitted $18 million, the firms’s of­ comes to taxation, unlike other utility firm already had a total li­ ficers said. The bigger share of money-making government agen­ ability of $104.44 million. $12.5 million was channeled to the cies whichareexempted from taxes. The bulk, $81.12 million or 78 Commcxiwealth Ports Authorityfor The CUC is now a major source percent of total, represents long­ its own capital improvement A flame tree provides a shady waiting place for relatives and friends of of tax revenue for the government, term loans ($66.66 million or 64 project. the missing airline employee. contributing $2.8 million during percent of total liabilities) provided Because of this, CUC’s obliga­ fiscal year 1991 alone. Since 1988 by the Commonwealth Develop­ tion to Mitsubishi was converted Search team finds the utility^ firm has paid $10.68 ment Authority (CDA) for CUC’s into a short-term credit, payable in million in taxes to the government, capital improvement projects and 12 months at8 percent to 12percent mainly from the S percent gross obligations to Mitsubishi Corp. fix interest instead of 20 years at 7 arrow but not m an receipts tax and the 10 cents per two power projects in Saipan. percent to 8 percent under CDA’s gallon fuel tax. Cuiicnt liabilities totaled $23.32 terms. By Gaynor L. Dumat-ol was holding his son and bis Nevertheless, the CUC, which million, well within CUC’s annual CUC is currently negotiating for uncle’s son aged 7 and 6, re­ realized $34.9 million revenues in revenues. Fuel costs represent 30 the final toms of payment for the THE FATE of the man lost in spectively. fiscal year 1991 against disburse­ percent to 40 percent of total dis­ $7.7 million balance under Phase I. the reef off BeachRoad last Sun­ The nephew said he and ments of $33 million, has the po­ bursements. For Phase Π, which was also day remained a mystery to mem­ Chipwelong, each carrying their tential to become a profitable util­ CUC started operations with a awarded to Mitsubishi, CUC about bers of the police and civilian sons oh their backs,were wad­ ity firm, as mandated by Public $64 million commitment from the $5.4 million is due. team conducting the search. ing towards a boat anchored Law 4-47, the CUC parent statute. CDA, of which $30 million would The project, with a total cost of Deputy Police Chief Ray several meters from the reef These were learned (hiring a be used for power projects, $16 continued on page 7 Camacho said as of yesterday, when he heard Chipwelong’s five days after Francisco son, crying. COMMONWELATH UTILITIES CORPORATION Chipwelong was reported miss­ The missing father and his son SCHEDULE OF LONG TERM 4 CURRENT LIABILITIES ing, only the arrow of a spear were behind Sam. Sam said PRINCIPAL INTEREST TOTAL REMARKS gun owned by the Continental when he looked back, he saw Mitsubishi Phase 1 7,716,059.03 1,008,910.47 8,724,969.50 Air Micronesia employee was Chipwelong trying to push his Mitsubishi Phase II 5,400,000.00 339,521.32 5,739,521.32 found by the 30-man search team. son up so he grabbed the boy CDA Loan-$30M 7% 29,900,000.00 11,899,084.16 41,799,084.16 Loan Restruded 'up to 05/17/93 The arrow was found near the and brought the two kids to shore CDA Loan-5.5M 7% 5,500,000.00 930,298.00 6.430.298.00 First monthly instal. paidon 05/28/92 deep portion of the reef where then rushed to where he last saw CDA Loan-$16 M5% 16,068,750.00 2,361,172.00 18.429922.00 Not due until 01/13/93 the missing father of three kids his uncle. The latter was no $64,584,809.03 $16,538,985.95 was last seen struggling to stay longer there. $81,123,794.98 above water. Relatives of Chipwelong who Current Liabilities “We’re puzzled about what had been keeping vigil on the Accounts Payable 6,630,458.46 happened,” Camacho said, add­ beach in front of China House Customer’s Deposit 6,864,242.36 ing that Chipwelong knew how restaurant where the missing Advance to/from CNMI Government 8,607,243.67 to swim. man was dropped off that fateful Other Accrued Expenses 500,703.04 A nephew of Chipwelong has Sunday morning, said Payroll Witholdings 262,307.45 • told investigators he saw his Chipwelong was healthy and Due to Grant or AGencies 444,404.51 uncle struggling as if something was not under the influence of NMI Retirement Fund 8,422.80 was pulling him down’. liquor when he headed off for Thenephew,Samuel Sam, said spear-fishing about 11 a.m. on Current Liabilities 23,317,782.29 he was unable to immediately July 26. save themissing man because he continued oh page 11 Total Liabilities $104,441,577.27 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-FRIDAY-JULY 31.1992 FRIDAY, JULY 31,1992 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 Japanese shot W Q rld Affairs The NORTHERN M ARIANAS M USIC S O C I E T Y P r e s e n t s at close range, Iraq claim s victo ry AM BASSADORS» OF PO. BOX 1071 CK. 8AIPAN, WP06Ö50 Ram os ends first By Nablia Megalll deniedit , The information gathered in autopsy shows OPERA ASO CONCERT MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) - the .ministry must now he as­ By Gaynor L. Dumat-ol earlier. Saddam Hussein’s government sessed by the whole team, said The killing of Kuniyoshi has Friday, August 7,1992 lackluster m onth claimed victory as UN experts NikitaSnri(feMch,^di3pnanfM' AN AUTOPSY cm the body of caught the attention of the media Charley's Cabaret, Pacific Islands Club leftBaghdad after afiuitlcss search the Special Commission over­ the Japanese murdered in community in Japan.