ur: KA\iliA•• t.1oJ•{A_!3.1. ·ui'11Vi:RS11 l arianas %riety;~ Micronesia's Leading Newspaper Since 1972 '&1 ews Four Hillbloin 'heirs' may ITANMI: Hotels may split up $30M By Ferdie de la Torre Variety News Staff LARRY Hillblom's DNA­ bring rates back up confirmed four children and Hillblom's Charitable Trust By Haidee V. Eugenio brings back to the three previous among the local hotels and only are expected to receive $50 . Variety News Staff years' level. catered to the limited, local trav­ million before the end of DESPITE the IO to 40 percent During the last seven years, it ellers, including those who came March 1999, the Variety reduction in room rates for more was only in 1998 that the average here for business trips, gamblers, learned yesterday. than a yearn ow, hotels reportedly monthly room rate plunged to and from Guam. Some have just A reliable source disclosed see no improvement in occupancy $81.47. In the past, the average lowered the rates without consid­ that the $50 million will be rates. room rates could reach as high as ering operational costs, which is. divided among the qualified Because of this, hotels may $172.54, HANMI records show. unthinkable," Sablan said. , heir claimants and the Trust as .. bring back old room rates to some­ Ron Sablan, HANMI president, The HANMI president pointed partial payment pursuant to how recoup some of their opera­ said lowered room rates have not out that hotels may start bringing the settlement agreement. tional expenses, the Hotel Asso­ really helped enticing more cus­ back their old room rates. If the Superior Court will ciation of the Northern Mariana tomers. Instead, it paved the way "They are not required to in­ grant the distribution, the Islands (HANMI) disclosed yes­ for stiffer and unhealthy competi­ crease their rates but they will source said, the Trust will re­ terday. tion among hotels than what was definitely not have further reduc­ ceive $20 million while the The average room rate was experienced in the past. tion," he said. Ron Sablan $30 million will be shared pegged at $117 .23 last year, which "It created stiff competition Sablan said. the only way the equally by the kids. · lowered room rates could become and a 38.2 percent increase in Under the settlement agree­ effective is b_y also reducing air departure facility charge per pas­ ment, Hillblom 's estimated fa:re and the airline fees. senger in order to get a good in­ $600 million to $700 million rsenate to ask court tol estate would be split 60 per­ He, however, said it is unfortu­ vestment grade rating for the 1998 cent to the Trust and 40 per­ nate that the Commonwealth Ports bond series. I oust Kara froin AGO "No matter what we do locally, cent to the heirs. I Authority is currently proposing Hillblom, co-founder of attorney general, it was learned a 64 percent hike in landing fees, Continued on page 54 yesterday.· DHL, died during a seaplane The resolution, which is ex­ crash off Anatahan in May 1995. His body was never re­ pected to be introduced and -:Contin.e:ntal--·M:i~rttrtesi~i- ___ •. _- .. covered. adopted in a session next week, Eight children filed heir- reaffirms the Senate's re jecli on ·sµst,,erids:Pohht)~~i:$:<~!mfe._ ship claims against of Kara's appointment last Dec. , VariBty ~e.vrs:SiBff . :· ;,:, ~ .-· __ . Hillblom 's estate._ 17. HAGATNA~-Continental. •Micronesia- will -temporarily.· overfly Of the eight children, those It directs the Senate legal Pohnpei starting Feb.17 to allow the Pohnpei government to close its qualified as heirs for passing counsel to prosecute any and all airport runway forneeded repairs. _ _ _. _ DNA tests were Junior Larry it legal actions "to vindicate the According to the .airline, 'it will be unable to Jarid _<:l1.1rit1g _the· rep3:~r · Hillbroom, Mercedita advice and consent authority of · Feliciano,JellianCuarteroand the Senate." schedule .and will temporarily halt sei:vice t6 a11d(frorn Polmpei during that period. · __ . _- · . · . · .: . Nguyen Be Lory. ~ Further, it stated that the The same source said only ~ memorandum last Dec. 31 and · The airline plans to resume flights to Pohnpei with Flight 958 on Maya B. K3ra ~ three important issues remain ._,_:__ ·) Jan. 29 appointing Kara as act­ March l, a Monday, following corripfotion of the necessary runway upgrade. · · :i unsettled in_the probate which By Zaldy Dandan ing attorney general is "in disre­ , j was opened in 1995. Variety News Staff gard" of the Senate's authority. Customers with flight plans to and from Pohnpei during this period i , Among the issues, the / ATLEASTfiveoftheninesena- The resolution states that ex­ are requested to contact their travel agency or the local Continental fl I . d . h I l'i source exp ame , 1st e case •_J tors have signed a resolution cept for a total of 12 days, Kara Micronesia office to make any needed adjustments or date changes. g ofChungP~ Yang,Hillblom's ,,, instructing the Senate legal has acted as attorney general Meanwhile, "Air Mike" parent Continental Airlines has reported Y fonner business partner, and ,~ counsel to ask the Supreme continuously from July 6, 1998 its highest January load factor in company history. the $ I 0-million claims of a Court to declare that Maya B. and that therefore her name was Continental Airlines yesterday reported a system--wide load factor Saudi prince and his business Kara can not hold the office of Continued on page 54 · Continued on page 49 associate. ---- -------------- .... - ------------ ------- ---- ---- .. ·········· --- . ---- -- -------- _______ ___I FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1999-MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 Jones outburst mars session: Over 300 missing House okays C bill after ferry sinks By Zaldy Dandan the remaining Covenant funds, Variety News Staff which total $144 million, half of PONTIANAK, ·Indonesia (AP) Wednesday without a life jacket He said panicked crew members TI-IE HOUSE of Representatives which has to be matched locally. - A fishing boat rescued a 37- near where the ship sank in the and passengers built makeshift rafts yesterday passed legislation that He said H.B. 11-380 will not be year-old passenger who drifted in SouthChinaSea,saidNeni,anurse as water gushed into the engine would implement the CNMI 's plan "impacted" by the possible pas­ the sea for four days after a leaky, at a hospital in Singkawang, a town room and white-capped waves buf­ for federally funded capital infra­ sage of President Clinton's fiscal overcrowded ship sank, officials on a river estuary in Borneo. feted the wooden hull. structure projects even as Minority year 2000 budget, which includes said Thursday. Up to 311 people "Hewasabletosurvivebyswim­ "When the ship's crew found a Leader Dino M. Jones (D-Prec. 4, language slashing the CNMI's remained missing and were feared ming with a piece of log. During leakundertheengineroom, we had Saipan) complained that his con­ Covenant funds. drowned. theordeal,he just drank sea water," five hours, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., stituents' need for safe drinking The bill now heads to the Senate .. The man, one of at least20 survi­ Neni said by telephone. She said he to prepare the rescue," he told The water was again "ignored" by his Minority Leader Jones, during vors of the weekend tragedy, was was weak but would recover. Associated Press. "We distributed colleagues. floor discussions, expressed disap­ being treated in a Borneo island The captain of the boat, 191 life jackets and built three rafts Passed by an 11-0 vote, House pointment that funding for Precinct hospital for bruises that he suffered Hermanto, described how his of floating drums. Bill 11-380 identifies $11.46 mil­ 4's water project was not included after waves flung him against a crowded vessel went down on Sat­ "I also burned piles of clothes to lion in local funds to match the Dino M. Jones Karl T. Reyes Ana S. Teregeyo in the bill. coral reef. urday night after its engine, bilge signal for help," he said. same amount in federal Covenant "Please help the people of Pre­ Junaedi bin Sapin was found pumps and radio broke down. Continued on page 51 Section 702 grants. provement, $1.14 million cility (design and partial construc­ million cinct 4," he said, adding that the current quality of water in the pre­ Rep. Karl T. Reyes (R-Prec. I, • Adult prison/crime lab/immi­ tion), $8.84 million Reyes said there would be other cinct, which covers the northern Saipan), the bill's author and the gration detention facility/youth fa- • Village youth centers, $1.01 legislation for the appropriation of · Smoker .. awardec! $50M from Philip Morris portion of the island, poses a health chairof the Ways and Means Com­ hazard. mittee,said the proposed law would Jones noted that the Legislature By KIM CURTIS who pledged to donate any money four hours Wednesday, Henley's cover $22.9 million worth of the SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A she receives to educate youngsters attorney told them that punitive .Vari~ N~Vls Staff education possible and provide- which provides parents with a deleted funding for the waterproject Wearing the NEWY cap one of girls looks up to a right wing activist following CIP projects: in the fiscal year 1997 budget. singing a song to commemorate Japan's National Foundation Day jury awarded a former three-pack­ aboutthedangersofsmoking. 'This damages were the only way to get • Marpi landfill, $3.8 million HAGATNA,-Sen. Eddie.Baza parents with the ability to choose school ,voucher of monetary Thursday at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.