.L...,.......:VNNERSITY . OF HAWAII LIBRARY- arianas %rietYr;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 · · ~ Vol. 26· No .. 48 : . - . .. 0 ·, • : • • ••• •• F,, ~d. ' '·M: '. z 1 "' 1 9 ft 9 . ' . .. .. .·: : . S_aipan, MP 969~p.'. .· .·.. ),::;-1·;¢:-· . ©1999Ma~ianas\iariety .-·· ;. _·.·.;. · ..... ,.: :- .·. , • .-y .•.., , ,aY. .. ~ .. 7 ..... ·.· .. : _Serving_C_NMlf~r~6.Y~ar~:.:.~> ... '.,,;.:- .. ' ," < • \ • ,0 < • • • • • ' • • • ~ ~ • 0 ' < • < • .. r • ' • ~ Retail stores under watch According to Capitol Hill resident: for selling smuggled items By Aldwin R. Fajardo Variety News Staff 'Gov't e1D.ployees AT LEAST 87 retail stores in the CNMI are being investigated by government operatives for allegedly selling smuggled merchandise, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio disclosed yesterday. Tenorio warned that businesses selling smuggled items face clo­ in burglary ring' sure while store owners would be slapped with criminal and civil charges. By Zaldy Dandan out that some government employ­ fied during yesterday's oversight "If businesses violate local and federal laws, they are subject not Variety News Staff ees are believed to be involved in a hearing to complain about the un­ only to prosecution but also closure." A CAPITOL Hill resident yester­ burglary ring. solved burglary cases on their During the governor's meeting with members of the Saipan Cham­ day said certain government em­ Public Safety Commissioner neighborhood. ber of Commerce, concerns about the proliferation of smuggled ployees are involved in a syndicate Charles W. Ingram Jr. neither con­ The public hearing, the second items on Saipan were raised. that is responsible for the spate of firmed nor denied the allegation, but in a series, is in response to the Tenorio said the Chamber is wary about unfair trade competition burglaries in her neighborhood. added that it will be investigated. growing public concern over pub­ due to the alleged widespread selling of merchandise like cigarettes In her testimony before a House House Committee on Judicial lic safety issues. being sneaked into the CNMI by unscrupulous individuals. committee conducting an oversight and Governmental Operations DPS has lately been criticized "I told the members of the Chamber that the Division of Customs · investigation of the Department of Chair Frank G. Cepeda (R-Prec. 4, for what some crime victims de­ is already monitoring stores selling these contrabands. Customs is • Public Safety (DPS), the resident, Saipan), in a separate interview, scribe as the police force's inability also tightening up its monitoring operations at the airport, checking who is a key witness in at least two . said the allegation is based on "ru­ to stop the series of burglaries on all incoming cargoes especially from high-risk areas," he told report­ recent criminal cases, said she got mors." Saipan's residential areas and ar­ ers. the information from a police offi­ "We will look into it," he said. rest the responsible criminals. The CNMI chief executive said Customs personnel have been • cial during a meeting with a com­ "We are taking the allegation seri­ DPS officials were also blamed instructed to strictly observe procedures in checking luggage and munity watch group on Capitol ously, but we will first evaluate the for the recent jail breaks, particu­ cargoes entering the CNMI to curb the proliferation of smuggled Hill. source of the information." larly the. riot that damaged the Continued on page 51 She said the police official blurted Two Capitol Hill residents testi- Susupe prison facility. DPH: Com_pact iinpact at $24-M 'understated' By Haidee V. Eugenio - Variety News Staff CIDNG difficulties in quanti­ fying the costs of social services provided to citizens of the Freely Associated States,. the Depart­ ment of Public Health yester­ day said the CNMI's $24 mil-. lion preliminary Compact-im­ pact figure may be too low, at least in the area of health. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio's of­ fice released last week a pre­ liminary report which contained Joseph Kevin Villagomez the cost to the CNMI of extend­ ing health, education and safety lion in 1997 and $11.9 million services to citizens of the in 1998, for a total of some $24 Marshall Islands, Federated million. States of Micronesia, and Palau. The CNMI is set to complete The draft report said the U.S. the report by the end of this owes CNMI some $12.8 mil- Continued on page 51 :f New NMi·c~i~i~al Code [: submitted to Legislature·:: Ii /, By Zaldy Dandan In her letter to Manglona and ; ; d Variety News Staff House Speaker Diego T. ::; ~ THE ATTORNEY General's Benavente (R-Prec. 2, Saipan), 1.r [.i Office, after four years, has fi. Kara said the proposed code is ,ii 11 nally submitted to the Legisla- an updated version of similar :/ ~ ture its proposed Revised legislation introduced in 1997. lJ Criminal Code, which Senate She said the new code con- !'.1 President Paul A. Manglona (R- ta ins many changes to the ex- fl Rota) will introduce as a bill isting law, which took effect in (l during the Senate session on November 1983 and was largely [1 Thursday. based on a 1962 code. J Manglona yesterday said he "l11e proposed revision is an ~ i; willinviteactingAttomeyGen- effort to update our criminal !;1 r1 era! Maya B. Kara to explain law and to bring it into line with [! [J before the Senate the key pro- the pr'.~ciples ~f law enforc~- !:j ~l visions of the 517-page pro- ment as th~y have evolved mh A girl curiously watches as a senior citizen from the Office of Aging administration weaves a coconut basket at Garapan Elementary School during the school's recycling carnival yesterday. Photo by Marla c. Alonso i}. __ .~~~~~: :~!~·~,~:.~~72~:~~.:c~·;~::: ··~ ... ,_~~.:····---~O~~:~-~-~:?:· ~:~--~~~:~.: ..~.:::t: PAC NEWSPAPER ..S!~CI<~,. .. 2-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-FRIDAY- MAY 21, 1999 FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1999 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 RP has 220,000 street kids Palau to host world leaders MANILA, Philippines (AP) - agencies are helping ease the prob- By MA LOU L. SA YSON not more than two days to attend The Philippines has more than lem, but cannot eradicate it, she For the Variety the SPF Leaders' Meeting on Oct. 220,000 street children and the said. KOROR (Palau Horizon) - 5. SATURDAY MAY 22 number will continue to grow un- The estimate of the'number of President Kuniwo Nakamura, Meetings, according to Shmull, less the government provides ad- street children is based on a gov- who chairs this year's 30th South will start on Oct. I with the two­ equate funding and the public helps emment study of children in 65 Pacific Forum (SPF), considered day meeting of forum's official solve the problem, an official said major Philippine cities, she said. the most important political block committees. Within this two­ LEAVING ISLAND SALE Thursday. The United Nations Children's in this part of the world, has for­ day meet prior to the official EVERYTHING MUST GO!!! Half of the street children are in Fund is currently financing a new mally invited United Nations Sec­ opening of the SPF Leaders' metropolitan Manila, said Lani survey to update the figure. retary General Kofi Annan to Meeting on Oct. 4, senior rep­ • Dining table and chairs $200 • Nordic Trak "Gold" Workout Samonte, whoheadsagovemment Samonte said about 70 percent grace the occasion. resentatives of member coun­ • Carved wood enteP11alnment machine $200 rescue program for street children. of the street' children have. homes Australian Prime Minister John tries will converge for discus­ center $250 • Barben set and bench $50 Asia's continuing· financial cri- but work on the streets peddling Howard and New Zealand Prime sion of regional issues. sis has worsened poverty in many goods, doing odd jobs; or begging Minister Jenny Shipley this early The Forum Leaders' Retreat • 13" TV $50 • Computer Pentium 75 $300 areas and caused more unemploy- to supplement family income. will be held on Oct. 4 on the have con filmed to attend the SPF Kofi Annan John Howard Jenny Shipley • Large Student Desk. w/ Drawers, • Beds Misc Carp Island. This closed ses­ ment, resulting in an increase in About 25 percent have homes leaders' meeting which will offi­ Ught, Shelves, Gabtnet $80 • Rice Dispenser 501b $20 going on smoothly, finally setting sion to last until Oct. 5, ac­ street children, she said. but only contact their families oc- cially open on Oct. 3. tant Secretary of State Stanley place on Oct. 7-8 this year. A government campaign and casionally, while 5 percent are aban- the dates for the meetings on Oct. cording to Shmul!, shall be • Ladies Golf Clubs, Y'amaha • BBQ .erffl/smoker $10 Delegations from the United Owen Roth for East Asian and Presidential Chief of Staff more financial assistance from the doned and are living in the streets, I to 8. devoted to the discussion of Graphite, FuD Set w/bag $250 • LP gas tank $20 States, Japan, Canada, China are Pacific Affairs will head the U.S. Temmy Shmull, who chairs the private sector and international she said. SPF organizing committee, said He said leaders of the 15- mem­ regional issues of common in­ • Bunk bed metal frame w/ • Rourescent r111ht fixtures Misc also expected to come as post delegation that will be attending ber nations will be on Palau for terest. mattresses $150 • Vacuum cleaner $10 forum dialogue partners. Assis- the post forum dialogue to take so far preparations for the SPF is • Nice baby crib $150 • Water Homes $10 • 4'x8' Pool tableslatll top, solid • Chrisbnas trees, lights, decors Misc mahogany w/oak rails, • 13 Foot Micronesian Marine V-Hull accessories $800 w/15 HP Outboard, Gas Tank, Trailer, Loose firearms abound • Scorpion "Stinger" llart and many extras $2,850 By Mar-Vic C. Munar of firearm licenses were among LaMotte also criticized DPS for machine $800 Variety News Staff the 10 separate audit reports on its failure to develop policies that LOOSE firearms proliferate in the DPS operations, which LaMotte would ensure safe operation of Plenty of miscellaneous items, clothes, sheets, household, appliances, cookware, community because of the De­ summed up in his testimony at shooting galleries.